The Institute of Negotiators, Community and Social Development Experts in Nigeria (INCOS-DE) has called for the adoption of homegrown negotiation strategies and community-led security re-engineering as a sustainable solution to the persistent challenges of banditry and kidnapping across the country.
In a statement issued by its Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, Kunle Yusuff, the institute expressed concern over the continued threat posed by criminal elements despite ongoing efforts by federal security agencies to curb insecurity.
While commending the commitment of security agencies in combating banditry and kidnapping, INCOS-DE stressed that lasting peace and security can only be achieved through a comprehensive approach that combines advanced negotiation techniques, community participation, and strengthened institutions.
The institute proposed a community-centered security re-engineering model that would see Local Government Councils serve as operational hubs for intelligence gathering and early warning systems within their respective jurisdictions. It also recommended a greater role for traditional rulers in mediating disputes, addressing the root causes of criminality, and leveraging their grassroots influence to foster peace.
According to the organisation, Community Development Councils (CDCs) should be empowered to mobilize citizens, coordinate local vigilance structures, and ensure community ownership of security initiatives.
INCOS-DE, however, emphasized that the proposed framework is not intended to replace existing federal security structures but to complement them. It noted that the Federal Government must continue to maintain full control over national security architecture, including command structures, logistics, and the deployment of military and paramilitary forces.
“The goal is to create strategic synergy between federal security capacity, local intelligence, and community trust,” the statement noted.
The institute also outlined five immediate priorities it believes the Federal Government must address to strengthen national security and deliver the dividends of democracy to Nigerians.
Among the recommendations is the strengthening of the judiciary through accelerated prosecution of banditry and kidnapping cases, enhanced witness protection measures, and the reduction of case backlogs to ensure that justice serves as an effective deterrent to crime.
INCOS-DE further urged the government to provide adequate funding, modern technology, and specialized training for intelligence agencies while integrating community-based human intelligence with technical intelligence for more proactive security operations.
The institute also advocated stronger collaboration between government, accredited civil society organisations, and credible media platforms, noting that such partnerships would enhance public enlightenment, support deradicalisation efforts, and promote transparency in security operations.
In addition, it called for transparent budgeting and accountability in the management of security funds, particularly resources allocated to counter-kidnapping initiatives, to eliminate leakages and build public confidence.
The organisation equally recommended the establishment of a centralized and professional information dissemination system to provide timely and accurate updates on security operations, counter misinformation, and reduce public anxiety.
INCOS-DE argued that banditry and kidnapping are not merely security challenges but symptoms of broader issues relating to governance, development, and public trust.
“A purely kinetic approach has operational limits. Nigeria’s greatest strength lies in its communities. By combining advanced negotiation strategies with homegrown structures under federal oversight, criminal networks can be degraded and communities safely restored,” the statement said.
The institute reaffirmed its readiness to support the Federal Government, state governments, local councils, traditional institutions, and civil society organisations through technical expertise in conflict negotiation, community security re-engineering, and sustainable peacebuilding.
It called on all stakeholders to act with urgency and determination, stressing that Nigeria’s security, stability, and prosperity depend on collective and decisive action.
