Conflict and peacebuilding experts have called on the Federal Government to regulate community-based vigilante groups and incorporate them into formal security structures to promote accountability and coherence.
Speaking at a webinar organized by Conflict Research Network West Africa (CORN West Africa) on Sunday, themed “Violence in North Central Nigeria: Pathways to Peace and Human Security,” the panelists recommended shifting from militarized responses to community-focused approaches that build trust and prioritize violence prevention.
The experts, including social entrepreneur and justice advocate Ms. Ier Jonathan-Ichaver, Director-General of the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution Dr. Joseph Ochogwu, criminologist Prof. Suchi Plangshak, and security governance specialist Prof. Albert Okoli, examined the deep-rooted structural, political, and social causes of violence in the region.
Moderated by CORN West Africa’s Executive Director Dr. Timipere Allison and Director of Strategy Dr. Gbemisola Abiola, the panelists urged for bold, unified action to end the ongoing violence.
Prof. Plangshak emphasized that the violence stems from systemic issues such as marginalization, exclusion, and the breakdown of justice, while Ms. Jonathan-Ichaver highlighted shortcomings in the state’s response, including security agencies’ failure to act on early warnings and weak investigative capabilities.
“There is a pressing need for the federal government to regulate vigilante groups and integrate them into formal systems to ensure responsibility and coordination,” they stressed.
Prof. Okoli warned against the dangers of unregulated vigilantism, noting that when the state withdraws, non-state actors fill the gap, sometimes worsening insecurity.
Dr. Ochogwu noted progress in controlling violence but called for more humane peacebuilding efforts, advocating for victim rehabilitation and empowering local governments with resources and autonomy to lead reconciliation efforts.
Dr. Allison reaffirmed CORN West Africa’s dedication to collaborative research and policy innovation, urging government, civil society, academia, and international partners to move beyond fragmented efforts toward a strategic, unified response that restores dignity, justice, and peace to the region.
