Professor Shehu Abdullahi Zuru, SAN, has attributed Nigeria’s worsening insecurity and social divisions to weak governance, widespread poverty, social injustice and the erosion of community leadership.
He called on government, religious institutions and other non-state actors to address the underlying causes of the country’s security challenges, warning that hatred, intolerance and identity-based divisions were undermining national cohesion.
Zuru made the remarks while delivering the lead paper at a policy dialogue organised by the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) in Abuja on Friday.
The dialogue, organised by the Network of Policymakers and Religious Leaders to Support Peace, Security and Reconciliation in Nigeria (NPMRL), was held under the theme, “Moving Beyond ‘Us versus Them’: Strengthening Local Governance, Security and Foreign Relations to Protect Freedom of Religion or Belief in Nigeria.”
He argued that the ‘Us versus Them’ mentality flourished in societies where hatred, intolerance and social divisions had displaced shared values and a sense of common humanity.
Zuru traced the consequences of identity-based hatred to historical atrocities, including Nazi racial supremacy, the 1994 Rwandan genocide and the 1992 Bosnian conflict, noting that intolerance could destroy social cohesion and the moral foundations of society.
He linked Nigeria’s deteriorating situation to poor policy choices, persistent poverty, declining public confidence in the justice system and the failure of political leadership to build consensus around national priorities.
The professor also blamed weakened leadership among religious institutions, traditional rulers, community figures and other influential non-state actors for worsening governance and security challenges.
“The compromised and receding local leadership by both state and non-state actors … as well as moribund formal institutions of public policy and public authority and accountability are only responsible for the current state of hopelessness in our dear country today,” he said.
He identified local government autonomy as essential to effective grassroots governance and urged the Federal Government to address the issue decisively.
According to him, stronger local government institutions would improve public service delivery and empower communities to respond more effectively to their development and security needs.
Zuru also challenged religious and community leaders to assume greater responsibility for promoting tolerance, rebuilding public trust and positively influencing young people.
He said community leaders must be willing to speak truthfully to political authorities and contribute to policies capable of addressing the country’s security and development challenges.
On national security, he maintained that terrorism, banditry and organised criminal activities had acquired transnational dimensions, with cross-border networks supporting recruitment, financing and other criminal operations.
He therefore called for stronger bilateral and multilateral cooperation, particularly in intelligence gathering, military capacity development and counter-insurgency operations.
“Therefore, clandestine and proactive diplomacy is mandatory for the success of every counter initiative meant to subdue these threats,” he said, stressing the need for genuine international partnerships to support Nigeria’s fight against insecurity.
He argued that foreign relations should form an integral part of national security policy because of the cross-border nature of extremist and criminal networks.
Earlier, the Director-General of IPCR, Dr Joseph Ochogwu, warned against divisive narratives that interpreted complex security challenges exclusively through religious identities, saying such portrayals could deepen mistrust and undermine national unity.
Ochogwu stressed that legitimate concerns over violations of freedom of religion or belief must be addressed without reinforcing religious divisions.
He called for impartial security responses, inclusive governance, accountability for human rights violations and constructive engagement among religious leaders, policymakers and community institutions.
According to him, protecting religious freedom requires more than constitutional guarantees, as it also depends on effective institutions, consistent enforcement of the law and mechanisms for preventing conflicts before they escalate.
He identified local governance, security governance and foreign relations as critical areas requiring stronger policy attention, urging stakeholders to translate discussions into practical recommendations and measurable interventions.
Ochogwu also recalled that the Nigerian Constitution guarantees freedom of thought, conscience and religion, prohibits the adoption of a state religion and protects citizens against discrimination on religious grounds.
The dialogue featured Reverend John Joseph Hayab as discussant and brought together policymakers, religious leaders and other stakeholders to examine strategies for strengthening religious freedom, security and peaceful coexistence.
IPCR said the engagement formed part of its efforts to strengthen collaboration between religious leadership and public institutions in addressing conflicts and promoting national reconciliation.
