Former senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District in the 8th National Assembly, Shehu Sani, has called for stronger community-based responses to assist in tackling insecurity in parts of the country.

Mr Sani made the call on Saturday in an interview with journalists in Abuja.

He said that local communities must develop resilience and collective resistance to incessant attacks by bandits and terrorists, noting that state security forces cannot be everywhere at the same time.

According to him, community vigilance should complement government efforts in addressing matters of insecurity.

Mr Sani, also a playwright, had recently released two books titled “The Village and the Vigilante” as well as “The Councillor and the Perilous Path to Europe: The Sahara Odyssey.”

He lamented that banditry and terrorism had persisted for over a decade across several northern states.

He noted that this had caused mass kidnappings, razed villages and displaced millions of people.

Mr Sani also expressed concern about the increasing number of young Nigerians embarking on dangerous journeys abroad, adding that concerted efforts must be made to fight insecurity.

According to him, many of these people who leave the country by different means were often exploited for prostitution, drug trafficking and other crimes, adding that they were also subjected to harsh experiences.

“In Libya, some of them spend months or even years before being pushed across the Mediterranean under life-threatening conditions,” he said.

He urged Nigerians to develop their dreams in their fatherland, as every dream can be achieved with the right determination.

“There is no dream for you to realise in Europe; Your dream can be realised here, in your own country,” he said.

(NAN)