From Victor Osula, Abuja
As usual Kaduna, the political heartland of Northern became rallying point for the stakeholders from across the region on Wednesday to chart a united front towards ending the region’s persistent security crisis, economic decline and educational crisis.
With one voice, the summiters declared that stronger collaboration among governments, security agencies, traditional institutions, religious leaders and local communities is essential to defeating insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes.
The resolution emerged at the Northern Peace Summit organised by the Arewa Cohesion for Peace, Unity and Development Initiative (ACI), where participants pledged to develop practical and sustainable strategies to restore peace, strengthen regional cooperation and accelerate socio-economic development across the North.
The summit, themed “Unity, Cooperation and Collective Action Against Insecurity,” attracted an array of stakeholders, including traditional rulers, religious leaders, senior government officials, heads of security agencies, civil society organisations, development partners, youth and women groups, academics and public policy experts.
Opening the summit, the Convener of ACI, Dr Abdullahi Idris, said the gathering was convened to move beyond rhetoric and produce practical solutions capable of addressing the complex and evolving security threats confronting Northern Nigeria.
He lamented that insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes had continued to devastate communities, destroy livelihoods, displace thousands of families and undermine economic growth across the region.
According to him, the worsening security situation has also weakened social cohesion, disrupted education and agriculture and slowed development in many Northern states.
Idris argued that the scale of the crisis demands a collective response involving governments at all levels, security agencies, traditional rulers, religious institutions, civil society organisations and local communities.
“The time has come for Northern Nigeria to rise above political, ethnic and religious differences and work together for the common good. We can no longer afford the luxury of blame or silence. Our collective resolve must be stronger than the challenges confronting us,” he said.
He stressed that overcoming insecurity would require sustained cooperation rather than fragmented interventions, urging all stakeholders to place regional stability above political and sectional interests.
The convener said deliberations at the summit would focus on improving dialogue between communities and government institutions, addressing the root causes of insecurity, tackling corruption and expanding community-based peacebuilding initiatives.
He emphasised the need to rebuild trust between citizens and public institutions through better coordination among security agencies, enhanced intelligence sharing and stronger grassroots vigilance.
Idris also called on traditional rulers and religious leaders to deepen efforts at promoting reconciliation, tolerance and peaceful coexistence, describing them as indispensable partners in preventing conflicts and resolving communal tensions.
Highlighting the role of young people and women, he said both groups must be fully integrated into the design and implementation of security and peacebuilding programmes, noting that lasting peace cannot be achieved without their active participation.
According to him, the summit is expected to produce a comprehensive regional peace and security framework containing clear policy recommendations and implementation strategies for governments and relevant institutions.
He further disclosed plans by the coalition to institutionalise quarterly peace dialogues and establish a network of community peace and youth ambassadors to sustain engagement, monitor progress and strengthen grassroots ownership of peace initiatives.
Expressing optimism, Idris said the initiative would help transform the narrative of Northern Nigeria from one defined by insecurity and conflict to one driven by resilience, peace, stability and inclusive development.
He urged participants to contribute meaningfully to the deliberations, insisting that the summit’s success would ultimately depend on the willingness of stakeholders to faithfully implement its resolutions.
At the end of the summit, participants are expected to adopt a communiqué containing recommendations aimed at strengthening regional collaboration, enhancing community security, improving intelligence-sharing mechanisms and promoting sustainable peace across Northern Nigeria.
Northern Nigeria has remained at the centre of Nigeria’s security challenges for more than a decade, battling the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East, widespread banditry in the North-West, recurring kidnappings for ransom, communal clashes and farmer-herder conflicts in the North Central.
Despite sustained military operations and various government interventions, attacks have continued to claim lives, displace millions, disrupt farming and education, and slow economic activities across several states.
The persistent crisis has fuelled growing calls for a holistic security strategy that combines military operations with intelligence gathering, community engagement, dialogue, economic empowerment and stronger collaboration among federal and state governments, traditional institutions and local communities.
