The Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation (SABMF) says military operations alone cannot sustainably end insecurity in Northern Nigeria without strong grassroots intelligence, data-driven coordination and institutional collaboration.

The foundation made the position known during its May 2026 Monthly Online Mentorship Programme held on Saturday.

The programme, themed “An Evidence-Based Solution to the Northern Insecurity Challenges: For Regional Unity, Peace and Development,” focused on practical strategies for addressing the region’s persistent security challenges.

Speaking at the event, the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of SABMF, Abubakar Umar, said sustainable peace required synergy among governments, security agencies, traditional institutions and local communities.

According to him, credible grassroots intelligence, systematic use of data and active citizen participation are critical to achieving lasting security.

“Sustainable peace is not achieved on the battlefield alone.

“It requires a deeply synchronized approach where governments, formal security agencies, traditional institutions and local communities operate as a united front,” Mr Umar said.

He added that the foundation remained committed to promoting practical and evidence-based solutions to the socio-economic and security challenges confronting Northern Nigeria.

The foundation also advocated the establishment of digitally equipped “Palace Situation Rooms” within emirates and chiefdoms to serve as local intelligence and early warning centres.

SABMF urged Northern governors, state assemblies, security agencies and local government authorities to adopt the PTP Model across the 19 Northern states and deploy the PTPMiSi platform to strengthen intelligence sharing and coordination.

It also called for the enactment of laws to institutionalise community intelligence systems, protect informants and regulate data governance.

Other recommendations included sustainable funding for grassroots security structures and digital literacy training for traditional rulers, youth leaders and local vigilante groups.

The foundation stressed that security remained essential for economic growth, agricultural productivity, investment and social stability in the region.

“Force can hold the line temporarily, but it cannot heal the crisis without coordinated leadership, reliable data systems and deep institutional synergy,” it stated.

Delivering the keynote address, a security and technology expert, Umar Bindir, identified the disconnect between formal security institutions and community intelligence structures as a major weakness in Nigeria’s current security framework.

Mr Bindir noted that despite huge investments in military hardware and operations, insecurity persisted due to the absence of organised, real-time territorial intelligence for early threat detection and rapid response.

He presented the Political Traditional Partnership (PTP) Model, an integrated governance and intelligence coordination framework implemented in Adamawa between 2015 and 2019.

According to him, the model creates a legally backed collaboration between political leaders and traditional institutions at state, local government and ward levels.

Mr Bindir also unveiled the Political-Traditional Partnership Management Information System (PTPMiSi), a digital platform designed to promote proactive and predictive security management through structured grassroots data collection and analysis.

He said the platform would monitor indicators such as unusual population movements, suspicious livestock and commercial transactions, irregular financial flows and local conflict flashpoints. 

(NAN)