Halogen Warns Against Rising Insecurity, Misinformation Amid Global Hostilities

As global conflict intensifies and insecurity persists in Nigeria, Halogen group has renewed its call for a coordinated international push toward sustainable peace.

The group warned that without deliberate conflict prevention, both global stability and national security will continue to deteriorate.

Delivering a policy lecture on “The State of Security in Nigeria: Peace Building and Conflict Prevention – A Part of the Solution?”, Security expert and Director Centre of Excellence at Halogen Security Company, Dr. Wale Adeagbo framed peace not merely as the absence of war but as a condition rooted in justice, institutional effectiveness, and the fulfilment of human needs.

Speaking at the firm’s academy in Lagos, Adeagbo said the search for peace must move beyond reactive security responses to address structural drivers of violence, including inequality, marginalisation, economic competition, and governance failures.

Drawing on global peace metrics, Adeagbo warned that worldwide stability has declined steadily over the past decade, with dozens of active conflicts, rising militarisation, and growing geopolitical fragmentation.

The economic cost of violence, he noted, now runs into trillions of dollars annually, underscoring what he described as a “shared global vulnerability.”

He identified misinformation, environmental stress, cyber threats, and expanding militarisation, including competition in outer space, as emerging drivers of instability. These pressures, he said, reinforce the need for preventive diplomacy and stronger international cooperation.

“Peace building is not optional,” he said. “It is a global necessity tied directly to human survival, economic development, and social order.”

The lecture linked global conflict dynamics to conditions in Nigeria, where insecurity remains a daily concern for many citizens.

Survey findings presented at the event showed widespread public anxiety about safety, with a significant portion of respondents describing the security situation as unpredictable or worsening. Kidnapping, armed robbery, terrorism, and communal conflict ranked among the most pressing threats affecting individuals and communities.

Data reviewed during the presentation indicated that firearms account for the majority of violent attacks by armed groups, while organised kidnapping networks continue to operate through multiple tactics ranging from highway abductions to insider-enabled operations.

Adeagbo argued that these patterns reflect deeper structural failures rather than isolated criminal activity. “Crime and violence often emerge when institutions fail to meet citizens’ legitimate needs,” he said, citing sociological theories that link instability to governance breakdown, social exclusion, and economic deprivation.

A central theme of the lecture was the distinction between “negative peace”, the temporary absence of violence, and “positive peace,” defined as durable stability supported by effective governance, social equity, and functional institutions.

Adeagbo emphasised that conflicts frequently stem from unmet human needs such as security, recognition, and economic opportunity. When individuals perceive those needs as denied, frustration can translate into aggression.

He also highlighted identity-based tensions, competition over resources, and what he described as “conflict entrepreneurship,” where actors benefit materially from instability.

“These drivers show why force alone cannot deliver lasting peace,” he said. “Security must be people-centred and preventive.”

Halogen Group outlined a multi-layered approach to conflict prevention grounded in early risk identification, stakeholder engagement, and professional conflict analysis. The company emphasised that peacebuilding requires collaboration between governments, communities, and non-state actors.

Adeagbo stressed the importance of emotional intelligence, active listening, and perspective-taking in resolving disputes, describing them as practical skills essential to modern security management.

He also urged policymakers to prioritise inclusive governance and equitable resource distribution, warning that exclusion fuels instability and undermines national cohesion.

Among the recommendations presented were strengthening institutions to ensure fairness, accountability, and effective service delivery, promoting non-violent dispute resolution mechanisms, expanding peace education and public awareness initiatives, ensuring conflict analysis and mediation are conducted by trained professionals and encouraging civil society participation in peace-building efforts.

Halogen Group, which operates across Nigeria’s local government areas and provides risk management services to public and private institutions, positioned its advocacy within a broader global peace framework.

The firm argued that security should be understood not only as state protection but as human security, encompassing the safety, dignity, and well-being of individuals.

Adeagbo concluded that while conflict is inevitable, its escalation is not. “The pursuit of peace requires commitment, understanding, and collective responsibility,” he said. “When human needs are addressed, and institutions function effectively, societies move closer to stability.”

With global tensions rising and local insecurity persisting, Halogen Group’s message was clear: peacebuilding is not a peripheral goal but a strategic imperative, for Nigeria and for the world.

Speaking at the event, Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Jimoh Moshood, highlighted the critical role of collaboration in enhancing security outcomes.

“No single agency can secure Nigeria alone. The partnership between private security companies like Halogen, community leaders, and law enforcement is essential for intelligence gathering, rapid response, and public trust. When citizens are confident in the system, they become active participants in their own safety.”

President of Rotary Club of Omole Golden, Rtn. Adekunmilola Adio-Moses emphasized Rotary’s longstanding commitment to peace advocacy and community development. “Peace-building is not an abstract concept; it is a deliberate, structured effort that requires civic engagement and institutional collaboration. Our partnership with Halogen Group reflects our shared belief that sustainable security begins at the community level, and that every citizen has a role to play in fostering stability.”