Jigawa State Governor, Malam Umar Namadi, has attributed the state’s security situation to community participation, traditional institutions and collaboration with security agencies, saying the approach has helped contain farmer-herder clashes and strengthen intelligence gathering.
In an interview with Daily Trust, Namadi said Jigawa remained one of the safest states in Nigeria, while acknowledging that insecurity continued to pose a challenge across Northern Nigeria.
He said his administration had adopted a bottom-up security strategy involving traditional rulers, Islamic scholars, community leaders and local vigilante groups to prevent criminal activities and respond to emerging threats.
“Community involvement in the security architecture is very important, and we have sustained it,” the governor said.
Namadi also commended security agencies in the state for working with local communities, adding that his government had strengthened the Farmer-Herder Board to mediate disputes and ensure fairness between farmers and herders.
According to him, the arrangement has helped reduce tensions and maintain peaceful relations between the two groups.
The governor, however, attributed the state’s relative peace to collective efforts, community cooperation and prayers for continued stability.
Namadi Identifies Community Intelligence as Key to Security
Explaining how Jigawa sustains its security arrangements despite threats from neighbouring states, Namadi said the state operates a system that links villages, towns, districts, emirates and the state government.
He said traditional rulers provide information about suspicious movements and unfamiliar persons, which is subsequently communicated to security agencies for appropriate action.
The governor added that local vigilante groups and community members also play important roles in intelligence gathering and crime prevention.
He stressed that effective security requires citizens to take responsibility for protecting their communities and reporting suspicious activities to the appropriate authorities.
Namadi said the government had continued to sensitise residents and promote fairness, arguing that public cooperation was essential to sustaining peace.
Community Sensitisation Critical to Fighting Banditry
The governor said political will, intelligence gathering and community collaboration were all necessary to address banditry, kidnapping and insurgency in Northern Nigeria.
While acknowledging the Federal Government’s financial investment in security operations, he argued that greater emphasis should be placed on mobilising communities to share information with security agencies.
According to him, information should flow through established traditional structures, from ward heads to village heads, district heads, emirs and ultimately the government.
He maintained that residents should report suspicious movements without fear and avoid providing criminals with opportunities to operate within their communities.
Namadi described community engagement as a critical component of the fight against insecurity, expressing confidence that other states could improve their security outcomes by adopting similar approaches.
Governor Defends First-Term Performance
As he prepares for a second term, Namadi said his administration had implemented programmes across the 12-point agenda it introduced upon assuming office.
He highlighted the Gwamnati da Jama’a citizen engagement programme, through which the government takes its activities and elected representatives to communities across the state’s 27 local government areas.
Under the initiative, governors, senators, members of the House of Representatives, state lawmakers, local government chairmen and commissioners present their achievements and respond to questions from residents.
Namadi said the programme provides an opportunity for citizens to assess government performance, identify outstanding challenges and demand accountability from elected officials.
He argued that the administration’s achievements were visible and measurable, rather than limited to official documents and reports.
The governor added that the government had presented its performance across sectors, including agriculture, education, healthcare, social security and empowerment.
Namadi Insists Jigawa APC Remains United
On the state of the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections, Namadi described the party as one family in Jigawa and expressed confidence in its political organisation.
He disclosed that his administration had recently engaged more than 2,000 academics from the state, presenting its achievements and outlining programmes in the pipeline.
According to him, the participants expressed surprise at the administration’s reported progress across several sectors.
Namadi maintained that residents would ultimately determine the government’s performance based on what they had experienced and observed.
He expressed optimism about continuing to serve the people of Jigawa, while attributing his confidence to the administration’s record and feedback from residents.
Governor Pledges Support for Tinubu’s Re-Election
Namadi also reaffirmed his commitment to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, following his inclusion among political figures working to mobilise support for the president in the Northwest.
He said supporting Tinubu was both a party responsibility and a political obligation, noting that the president belonged to the APC.
The governor argued that increased allocations to state and local governments had strengthened their capacity to implement development projects and deliver services.
According to him, the Federal Government’s support has contributed to the ability of APC-led states to execute programmes for their citizens.
Namadi said APC governors would work to secure Tinubu’s return to office, just as they would seek to retain their respective positions.
“All of us in the APC will work hard to ensure the President wins the election in Jigawa State,” he said.
He added that his administration would continue working with the president, whom he described as a partner in delivering development to the people.
With insecurity, governance performance and political realignments expected to remain prominent issues ahead of 2027, Namadi’s remarks underscore his administration’s emphasis on community-based security, public accountability and continued cooperation between the Jigawa government and the Federal Government.
