Federal Government has been urged to adopt a new approach to tackling insecurity by involving mothers of bandits, terrorists and other criminal elements as part of efforts to restore peace across Nigeria.
The Executive Director of Nana Girls and Women Empowerment Initiative, Dr Fatimah Adam, made the call while speaking on the gender dimension of banditry at a brainstorming session organised by the Sokoto Advancement Forum (SAF) on coping with banditry in Sokoto State.
Dr Fatimah said the current security measures by the government should be supported with soft power strategies, especially through the involvement of women who can influence their children and communities.
She said, “Insecurity in Nigeria is very disheartening. And the time has come for the Federal Government to change approach by using the soft powers now.”
According to her, mothers can play a major role in convincing criminal elements to abandon violence because of the respect they command among their children.
“The time has come for the Federal Government to engage women, who are mothers of the known actors of this insecurity. This will help end the insecurity, because the bandits, terrorists and all those involved in criminality respects the voices and pleas of their mothers,” she said.
Dr Fatimah also expressed concern over the closure of schools in some states due to security threats, warning that the decision could create more challenges for the country.
She argued that keeping children away from classrooms could increase the number of out-of-school children and expose more young people to crime and possible recruitment by terrorist groups.
While speaking at the event, the National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, represented by the Director, Legal Services, Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Barrister Zakaria Usman Mijinyawa, said controlling illegal weapons remains a major part of Nigeria’s fight against insecurity.
Ribadu said the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) had recovered thousands of firearms and destroyed several illicit weapons during recent operations.
He quoted the Director-General of the centre, DIG Johnson Kokumo, as reporting that the agency recovered 5,449 firearms and destroyed 1,419 illicit weapons during nationwide operations in September 2026.
“Johnson also reported that cumulative weapons destruction since 2022 had exceeded 19,000,” Ribadu said.
He added that the figures showed the importance of continuous efforts to stop illegal arms trafficking and prevent criminal groups from accessing weapons.
“These figures demonstrate the importance of sustained weapons-control operations. The NCCSALW and relevant security agencies will continue to strengthen efforts to disrupt arms-trafficking networks, trace recovered weapons and prevent illicit firearms from reaching criminal groups in Sokoto and other vulnerable areas,” he said.
The NSA stressed that lasting peace requires more than military operations, adding that government must also rebuild communities affected by insecurity.
“The Federal Government will continue to strengthen coordination between military operations, policing, civil administration and the restoration of essential services to prevent criminal groups from re-establishing their presence,” Ribadu said.
He added that ONSA would continue to promote a coordinated security approach involving government agencies, communities and other stakeholders.
Speaking on behalf of the chairman of Sokoto Advancement Forum, Professor Ambassador Mohammad Ahmad Wali, the Vice Chairman, Professor Riskuwa Arabu Shehu, said the organisation brought together concerned citizens and stakeholders committed to finding solutions to banditry.
He said the presence of participants at the forum showed their commitment to addressing the security challenges affecting Sokoto and other North-West states.
Professor Riskuwa described SAF as a non-partisan organisation focused on development, education, security and accountability.
“Sokoto Advancement Forum is a non-partisan organization comprising concerned citizens and stakeholders committed to the holistic development of Sokoto State,” he said.
He added that the forum’s vision was to create a Sokoto State where children have access to quality education and citizens can live in dignity and security.
“Our vision is to see a Sokoto State where every child has access to quality education, where every citizen lives in dignity and security, and where our rich cultural and Islamic heritage serves as a foundation for progress rather than a barrier to development,” Professor Riskuwa said.
