By Abdullahi Inuwa
For years, insecurity has cast its shadow across Nigeria from terrorism and banditry to kidnappings and communal clashes. Yobe State, once a peaceful hub of agriculture and close-knit rural life, has felt these tremors deeply.
The Boko Haram insurgency and other criminal threats have displaced families, emptied farmlands, and left wounds that are both visible and invisible.
But there is one truth we must not ignore: the fight for security cannot be won by government and security agencies alone. Real safety is a shared responsibility – one in which every citizen has a role.
However well-trained or well-equipped the army and police may be, they rely on the eyes, ears, and courage of the communities they serve.
“If you see something, say something” is more than a catchy slogan. It is a civic duty. Turning away from wrongdoing, shielding offenders because they are relatives, or staying silent out of fear only deepens the cycle of violence. Yobe’s own experience shows that the people committing harm are often not strangers.
In some cases, individuals have gone as far as colluding in the abduction of their own family members for ransom. Breaking this chain of betrayal demands moral courage and a collective stand against crime, no matter who is involved.
Buni’s Multi-Layered Security Strategy
Governor Mai Mala Buni has placed security at the center of his administration’s agenda. His approach recognizes that the battle is fought not only on the frontlines but also in the hearts of communities.
While his government has strengthened law enforcement with better vehicles, communications equipment, and welfare for security personnel, it has also built strong alliances with traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth organizations, women’s groups, and community vigilantes.
In places where these vigilantes have been trained and equipped, Boko Haram’s reach has shrunk. When local groups work in sync with formal security agencies, threats are spotted earlier, responses are faster, and public confidence grows stronger.
This partnership has proven that communities are not bystanders, they are frontline defenders of their own safety.
Rebuilding Lives, Restoring Hope
Security is not just about pushing back insurgents; it is also about rebuilding what conflict has destroyed. Under Buni’s leadership, thousands of internally displaced persons have been given a chance to start again. Children from affected families now enjoy free education, complete with uniforms, books, and meals a powerful shield against extremist recruitment.
Healthcare has been expanded, particularly for pregnant women, children, and the elderly in conflict-hit areas, with free treatment and immunization campaigns. Economic recovery programs, from small business grants to farming support and microcredit schemes are helping people rebuild livelihoods wiped out by insecurity.
Breaking the Culture of Silence
For Yobe to be truly free from insecurity, its people must reject the habit of protecting criminals. Being a “son of the soil” is no license for lawlessness. Evil grows when good people say nothing.
Religious leaders must speak boldly for peace, women must be fully involved in decision-making, and young people must channel their energy into building, not destroying.
The Road Ahead
There are signs of progress. Families are returning to their homes. Markets are opening again. Schools are filling with children. Farmers are back in their fields. But the road is long, and security work is not a quick race, it is a test of endurance, requiring vigilance and unity.
The government can lead the charge, but it is the community that must hold the line. Lasting victory will come when every citizen takes ownership of peace and chooses unity over division. Yobe can rise again from fear to resilience, from survival to prosperity but only if we stand together.
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