Iliyasu Abdullahi Bah
In a renewed effort to strengthen grassroots security and community resilience in Sokoto State, the Kukah Centre has launched a training programme for 200 Community Security Guards, aimed at enhancing local responses to insecurity and promoting peaceful coexistence.
The initiative, unveiled at a formal launch event in Sokoto, is part of the Centre’s broader mission to build community capacity and bridge the gap between formal security forces and civilian defense structures.
Speaking at the event, the Director of the Kukah Centre, Rev. Fr. Atta Barkindo, underscored the urgency of the programme, citing the alarming scale of insecurity in northern Nigeria, particularly in states like Sokoto where insurgency and communal violence have severely impacted daily life.
“Nigeria is grappling with a deep humanitarian crisis in the North, with over 2.2 million people displaced and more than 632,000 conflict-related deaths recorded annually,” Barkindo said.
He attributed the worsening insecurity to economic hardship, widespread unemployment, systemic inequality, and growing public distrust in official institutions.
“Security is everyone’s responsibility. We can no longer afford to ignore the importance of local structures. Communities are increasingly turning to civilian defense groups out of frustration. This raises critical questions about the direction of Nigeria’s security architecture,” he added.
Founded in 2008, the Kukah Centre has long been at the forefront of governance advocacy, interreligious dialogue, and policy research, working to promote peaceful societal transformation across Nigeria.
The new programme includes an in-depth review of the legal framework governing community guard operations in Sokoto State, with the goal of identifying operational gaps and equipping participants with specialized training modules tailored to local needs.
Project Manager, Tarseer Bamber, highlighted the dual objectives of the initiative—strengthening local security mechanisms and fostering social harmony and shared responsibility.
“We are not just training security personnel; we are building trust, restoring dignity, and encouraging a sense of ownership among community members,” Bamber noted.
The programme also aims to improve coordination between formal security agencies and community guards, ensuring that grassroots responses to insecurity are both effective and legally grounded.
As insecurity continues to threaten livelihoods and stability across the region, the Kukah Centre’s intervention is being widely seen as a crucial step toward community empowerment, social cohesion, and sustainable peace in Sokoto State and beyond.