…..say community vigilant groups must be regulated
Conflict and peacebuilding experts have advised the federal government to regulate community based vigilant groups and integrate them into formal structures to ensure accountability and coherence.
They also recommended a shift from militarized interventions to deploying community-based approaches that build trust and prioritize prevention to solve the violence in north central Nigeria.
They experts made the submissions at a webinar hosted by Conflict Research Network West Africa (CORN West Africa) where leading experts and practitioners came together to dissect the violence plaguing North Central Nigeria and to chart actionable pathways toward peace and human security.
Themed “Violence in North Central Nigeria: Pathways to Peace and Human Security,” the webinar panellists (Ms. Ier Jonathan-Ichaver, a social entrepreneur and justice advocate and founder of Sesor Empowerment Foundation; Dr. Joseph Ochogwu, the Director-General of the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution; Prof. Suchi Musa Plangshak, a criminologist and security studies scholar at the University of Jos; and Prof. Albert Chukwuma Okoli, an expert in security governance and strategic studies) examined the structural, political, and social drivers of the conflict in the region.
Moderated by CORN West Africa’s Executive Director, Dr. Timipere Allison and Director of Strategy, Partnerships and Policy Development, Dr. Gbemisola Abiola, the panellists called for bold actions to end the violence in the northcentral Nigeria
While Professor Plangshack stated that the violence in North Central Nigeria is not merely a product of armed conflict but a reflection of systemic dysfunction rooted in marginalization, exclusion, and the erosion of justice, Ms. Jonathan-Ichaver highlighted the inadequacy of state response, noting that security agencies often fail to act on early warnings and lack investigative capacity.
In his contribution, Professor Chukwuma Okoli recognized the rise of community-based security groups and warned of the dangers of unregulated vigilantism. “When the state abdicates its role, non-state actors step in. But without oversight, they can become part of the problem,”
In his submission, Dr. Ochogwu who noted that much progress has been made in containing the violence in North Central Nigeria, called for a more humane approach to reconciliation and peacebuilding in the region, emphasizing that “We must rehabilitate victims, not just count them. Local governments need resources and autonomy to lead reconciliation efforts. Peace can not be outsourced—it must be locally owned.”
Other roadmap to peace in the northcentral as suggested by the panellists included “Inclusive peacebuilding requires the active engagement of women, youth, and traditional leaders in dialogue and decision-making. Grassroots initiatives that promote trust, reconciliation, and social cohesion should be supported and scaled. Governance must be restructured to decentralize power and strengthen local governments, enabling them to respond more effectively to community needs. Constitutional reforms should reflect Nigeria’s diversity, fostering a more inclusive and responsive political framework. Justice and accountability are essential. Strengthening investigative capacity and prosecuting perpetrators will help end impunity, while psychosocial support and resettlement programs are vital for restoring dignity and healing among victims.”
The Executive Director of CORNWEST Africa, Dr Timipere Allison who noted that CORN West Africa reaffirmed its commitment to collaborative research, policy innovation, and amplifying community voices urges “government actors, civil society, academia, and international partners to act decisively, as the time for piecemeal interventions is over. What is needed now is a unified, strategic response that restores dignity, justice, and peace to the people of North Central Nigeria.”
