In 2025, Nigeria is grappling with one of the most critical security challenges globally, marked by widespread violence, mass displacement, and over 30 million people suffering from acute food shortages. The crisis stems from a complex mix of insurgencies, economic instability, deep-rooted poverty, and climate-related disasters, particularly affecting the northeast and northwest.
For many, the situation has become an unwelcome part of daily life. Between May 2023 and April 2024, Nigeria lost 614,937 lives to various forms of insecurity, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). During the same period, over 2.2 million people were reportedly kidnapped, with more than ₦2.2 trillion paid in ransom.
In the nation’s capital, Abuja, the situation is no different. While both local and international interventions are underway, limited funding and the multifaceted nature of the threats continue to hinder progress.
But in Bwari, a community in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), located on the road to Kaduna, this lived reality has triggered a wake-up call among residents to avert violent threats before they occur.
Shaibu Shaibu Ojochide, a security expert, is deploying a non-kinetic approach to address the growing security crisis. His tech-based security company, Nalon Integrated Services, has launched the ‘Community Anchor Programme’ – an initiative that engages youth to help safeguard their communities. This initiative is transforming how Nigerians think about security, putting the power back in the hands of the people.
His model recruits young people within the community to serve as first responders, trained in surveillance and early detection of potential threats. These community safety agents monitor, report, and work closely with government security agencies to act before danger strikes.
By combining technology, community trust, and local knowledge, the programme is doing more than just reducing crime, it is restoring confidence, creating employment, and fostering unity.
For residents of Bwari, this is not just a security programme. It is a lifeline!
By Lois Abba Sambo
