Niger State's top security official says the government has found a serious problem in its fight against crime. Commissioner Barr.
Morice Magaji identified weak trust between communities and security forces as a major issue.
He spoke on Friday during a press briefing in Minna marking the administration's third anniversary. Magaji pointed to dishonest informants as a critical weakness in current operations.
These informants leak intelligence or betray their own communities, he explained. Such behavior damages security efforts and damages public confidence in agencies.
According to him, the state has now created a new framework to fix this problem. "We noticed gaps, especially in confidence within communities and in information sharing," Magaji told reporters.
"That is why we had to come up with a framework to build the confidence of our people," he added. The commissioner emphasized that confidentiality will be guaranteed for all shared information.
"We also had to assure our communities that any information they give us will be treated as confidential," he noted. "So we can get more intelligence and work better with security agencies."
Governor Mohammed Umar Bago has pushed the state toward a more aggressive security approach. This strategy aims to predict threats before they happen, Magaji said.
A standing security committee now meets regularly to assess problems across Niger State. It includes all relevant agencies working together on responses.
Traditional rulers now play a formal role in gathering intelligence from their communities. Officials are also asking residents to report suspicious behavior like hoarding food and fuel.
Mr. Obed Nana, Commissioner for Information and Orientation, organized the briefing to highlight achievements.
He said the administration remains committed to sustainable growth and economic development.
Nana called on journalists to be objective in their reporting. "The purpose of this briefing is to showcase the achievements recorded by this administration over the past three years," he stated.
He urged the media to help promote peace and unity in the state.
