By Tunde Akanbi, Ilorin
Retired Assistant Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Taiye Ayinla Olowo, has urged the Federal Government and state governments to strengthen intelligence gathering and improve security measures to protect farmers and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members against kidnapping and other security threats.
Olowo said effective intelligence coordination, strategic deployment of security personnel and improved surveillance were essential to tackling insecurity, restoring public confidence and safeguarding agricultural activities across the country.
The security expert made the call while speaking to Newsmen in Ilorin,Kwara State Capital where he expressed concern over the growing risks faced by corps members travelling to their states of deployment and farmers working in vulnerable rural communities.
He urged the Federal Government and NYSC management to introduce coordinated transportation arrangements for corps members during mobilisation, with adequate security escorts accompanying them to their orientation camps.
According to him, the measure would reduce their exposure to kidnappers and reassure prospective corps members and their families about their safety during national service.
Olowo, however, opposed calls for the scrapping of the NYSC scheme, describing it as an important instrument for promoting national unity and integration.
He recalled that the scheme was established after the Nigerian Civil War to foster reconciliation and bring Nigerians from different backgrounds together, warning that persistent insecurity could undermine its founding objectives.
The retired officer also called for greater attention to security in farming communities, noting that kidnapping and banditry had forced some farmers to abandon their farmlands, thereby affecting agricultural production and contributing to rising food prices.
He cited parts of Kwara State where, according to him, insecurity had disrupted farming activities, stressing that farmers needed adequate protection to return to their farms and increase food production.
To address the challenge, Olowo recommended the identification of vulnerable communities and security flashpoints, followed by the strategic deployment of personnel from the police, NSCDC and military to areas with inadequate security presence.
He also advocated the establishment of community-based intelligence networks involving trusted residents, traditional institutions and youths to provide security agencies with timely information about suspicious movements and activities.
Olowo said such information should be channelled through a coordinated intelligence system to enable security agencies to respond promptly to emerging threats.
He further recommended the installation of closed-circuit television cameras along major roads and other strategic locations, particularly in Ilorin, to improve surveillance and support the identification of suspected criminals.
The security expert said vulnerable schools in rural communities should also be protected through perimeter fencing, security posts, watchtowers and the deployment of security personnel where necessary.
He proposed the establishment of a security trust fund jointly supported by federal and state governments, local government councils and private individuals to provide operational logistics, accommodation and other essential facilities for security agencies.
On the administration of criminal justice, Olowo called for faster prosecution of suspected kidnappers and bandits, advocating special courts to expedite the hearing of cases involving kidnapping and related offences.
He said prolonged trials could weaken public confidence in the justice system, adding that suspects should be prosecuted promptly while being accorded due process under the law.
Olowo also urged political parties, aspirants and the media to promote responsible public communication ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning that inflammatory statements could heighten political tension and create additional security concerns.
On the debate over state police, he argued that the government should first address operational challenges facing existing security agencies, particularly inadequate logistics, personnel welfare and capacity.
He maintained that political will, effective intelligence gathering and cooperation among security agencies and local communities remained crucial to tackling insecurity.
Olowo said sustained investment in these areas would help protect lives and property, restore farmers’ confidence and strengthen national unity.
