Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mohammed Ndarani, has stressed the importance of joint intelligence sharing and coordinated operations among security agencies and citizens in the fight against insecurity across Nigeria.
Ndarani made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Abuja, while reacting to the recent rescue of 308 kidnapped victims from different locations in Kwara and Niger states.
The legal practitioner said the country’s security challenges could not be effectively tackled by security agencies alone, stressing that Nigerians also have an important role to play by providing relevant information to authorities.
According to him, the successful rescue of the victims has brought relief not only to their families but also to Nigerians who have remained concerned about the rising incidents of kidnapping and other forms of criminality.
“I was worried but now delighted over the rescue of the victims abducted in separate attacks in Kwara and Niger states.
“With the release, Nigerians, and not just the families of the victims, will breathe a sigh of relief, and for that, we give thanks to God Almighty.”
Ndarani commended President Bola Tinubu, the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the various security agencies that participated in the operation that resulted in the rescue of the 308 victims.
He described the rescue operation as a significant development in the country’s ongoing battle against insecurity and praised the approach adopted by the National Security Adviser in addressing security challenges.
“Ribadu’s style of security approach to protecting lives and properties is one of the best in the world.
The SAN, however, maintained that defeating rural criminality would require stronger cooperation between security agencies and people living within affected communities.
He urged residents to be more vigilant and ensure that information about suspicious movements or activities is promptly communicated to the appropriate authorities.
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“If we must have victory against rural criminality, people in our local communities must be prepared to share information with the relevant authorities.
“If you see something, say something. Intelligence gathering is key as some of these criminals have relatives and friends who know what they are doing or are suspicious of some of their activities.
“These suspicious activities should be reported to grow efficiency and collaboration among citizens and our security agencies.”
According to Ndarani, effective intelligence gathering at the grassroots level could significantly improve the ability of security agencies to identify criminal networks, track suspects and prevent attacks before they occur.
He said the recent rescue operation had renewed hope among Nigerians, urging the security agencies to maintain the momentum and intensify their operations against kidnappers and other criminal elements across the country.
“I urge Nigerians to continue to share useful security information with the authorities to stop these criminal attacks and make our nation safer and more peaceful.
“I commend president Tinubu and the NSA for their steadfast resolve to eliminate security threats, protect vulnerable Nigerians and restore lasting peace across the nation.”
While commending the security agencies for the successful rescue, the learned silk also called for the swift prosecution and sentencing of those responsible for kidnapping and other violent criminal activities.
He stressed that bringing perpetrators to justice would not only provide justice for victims but would also serve as a deterrent to others who may be considering similar criminal acts.
“These criminals should be prosecuted to serve as deterrent to people who want to embark on such activities and as well bring justice to the victims of their actions,” Ndarani said.
The call comes amid continuing concerns over kidnapping and other security threats in different parts of the country. Ndarani’s position underscores the need for sustained cooperation between government institutions, security agencies and local communities in confronting criminality.
The recent rescue of the 308 victims, he suggested, demonstrates what can be achieved when security agencies work together and useful intelligence is made available to those responsible for responding to security threats.
For the gains to be sustained, however, he urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and continue supporting security agencies with credible information that could assist in preventing attacks and protecting lives and property. (NAN)
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