Chinazaekpere Chinwendu, Reporter
December 2, 2025 —
Former Abia governorship candidate and founder of the OAU foundation, Hon. Onyekwere Akym Uche (OAU), has cautioned that Nigeria’s worsening insecurity cannot be resolved through isolated government or military actions.
He urged the Federal Government, security agencies, state governments, traditional institutions, communities, and citizens to embrace a coordinated, collective strategy to restore peace across the country.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, OAU said Nigeria was facing a “complex and evolving security crisis” that requires collaboration rather than fragmented responses.
He warned that no single institution, no matter how equipped, can successfully combat the numerous forms of violence confronting the nation.
“No institution can fight insecurity alone. Not the military, not the police, not the government, and certainly not local communities acting in isolation,” Akym said.
“What we are dealing with is a national emergency that demands a collective, integrated, and intelligence-driven approach.”
He stressed that insecurity has become a multi-dimensional threat; spanning terrorism, kidnapping, banditry, cybercrime, cult violence, and communal clashes, making it impossible for any agency to provide complete solutions on its own.
“The nature of insecurity today is not linear. The threats are interconnected and constantly evolving. This is why isolated efforts will always fall short,” he added.
Hon. Akym noted that nations that successfully confront internal security challenges do so through strong coordination frameworks where intelligence sharing, joint operations, and community partnerships are prioritized.
“Nigeria must adopt a unified command structure, improve synergy among security agencies, and eliminate avoidable rivalries. We cannot have agencies competing for recognition while citizens are dying,” he said.
The former governorship candidate also emphasized the importance of community involvement, insisting that locals remain the most reliable source of early warning signals.
“Communities must be part of the solution. They understand their terrain and can provide vital intelligence. But they also need to trust that if they speak up, the government will protect them,” Akym stated.
He warned that without rebuilding confidence between security agencies and the public, insecurity will continue to thrive.
“Trust is the oxygen of effective security. If citizens do not trust the system, they will not cooperate. And without cooperation, we cannot defeat criminals who hide among us,” he said.
OAU called on the Federal Government to urgently invest in intelligence technologies, community policing, training for security personnel, and better welfare packages for officers on the frontlines.
“We cannot continue to underfund security and then expect outstanding results. Our officers must be well-trained, well-equipped, and well-motivated,” he noted.
He further stressed that the fight against insecurity should not be reduced to political rhetoric but treated as a matter of national survival.
“This is not the time for blame games or political divisions. Insecurity does not discriminate. We must all rise above politics and unite as one nation in pursuit of peace,” Akym urged.
Concluding his message, Akym expressed hope that with sincerity, partnership, and decisive leadership, Nigeria can overcome the current wave of violence.
“We can win this war, but only if we fight it together. Our security, our freedom, and our future depend on the choices we make today,” he said.
Security analysts have echoed similar concerns, adding that Nigeria’s fragmentation in handling security challenges has contributed to the prolonged crisis affecting many regions.
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