Traditional rulers in Abia State have emphasised the critical role of the traditional institution in addressing Nigeria’s security challenges.
During a visit by Senior Course 47 students from the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, to Umuahia on May 8, 2025, Eze Okey Ananaba, representing Eze Linus Nto Mbah, Chairman of the Abia State Council of Traditional Rulers, highlighted the importance of collaboration between security agencies and community leadership structures.
He underscored that traditional rulers are often the first responders, surveillance agents, and moral anchors of their communities.
The monarchs outlined several functions they perform that directly impact national security, including monitoring new entrants, spotting unusual activity, and maintaining informal networks of palace informants.
They also engage in community policing and organise and supervise vigilante groups that work with police and military units. However, they pointed out challenges such as the lack of formal security training for palace personnel, insufficient funding for local security outfits, and intelligence gaps in communities without officially installed traditional rulers.
Brigadier General Nnaemeka Oghili, who led the Jaji delegation, acknowledged the contributions of traditional institutions to security efforts.
He emphasised that the tour was part of the curriculum to help officers understand the realities on the ground and engage directly with stakeholders like traditional rulers.
This interaction reflects a growing recognition of the need to integrate traditional institutions into the national security framework.
Efforts are underway to draft a bill that would establish a national council of traditional rulers, granting them constitutional responsibilities in governance, peace, and security.
Such initiatives aim to empower monarchs to play a more active role in maintaining peace and addressing security concerns at the grassroots level.
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cc: Daily Post Ng
