The World Impact Development Foundation (WIDEF) participated in the Security Dialogue Stakeholders Session on Community-Based Solutions to Kidnapping held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Center in Abuja, Nigeria on the 20th December, 2023. The Executive Director of WIDEF, Kingsley Godwin delivered a keynote speech during the event addressing the escalating issue of insecurity and kidnapping in Nigeria and explored community-based solutions to mitigate the prevalence of kidnapping incidents.
He gave a comprehensive assessment of the current security landscape, highlighting the alarming increase in kidnapping incidents across various regions of Nigeria and shared insights into the root causes, contributing factors, and patterns of kidnapping activities. Emphasizing the pivotal role of communities in combating kidnapping, he deliberated on the importance of fostering strong community-government partnerships and highlighted the need for grassroots initiatives, neighborhood watch programs, and community policing strategies to enhance local resilience and security.
During the program, participants underscored the importance of targeted training programs, public awareness campaigns, and civic education initiatives to equip communities with the necessary tools to address security threats proactively. Participants also emphasized the imperative of multi-stakeholder collaboration between government agencies, law enforcement authorities, civil society organizations, and community leaders to enhance intelligence sharing, joint operations, and response coordination and in developing holistic and sustainable solutions to kidnapping.
In addition to immediate intervention measures, participants highlighted the necessity of long-term strategies aimed at addressing the underlying socio-economic drivers of kidnapping, such as poverty, unemployment, and social inequality. Recommendations were made for investment in youth empowerment programs, job creation initiatives, and community development projects to foster economic opportunities and social cohesion.