Group To Empower Nigerians Against Insecurity

Worried by the insecurity bedevilling Nigeria, the Citizens for Peace and First Aid Mission of Nigeria (CPFA-MN) plans to empower Nigerians to become active participants in safeguarding their communities and contributing meaningfully to national development.

The commander-general of CPFA-MN, Colonel Igwe Ibili Amara (rtd), revealed this at the celebration of his 2nd anniversary in office, and a train-the-trainer capacity building workshop titled, “National Insecurity and Building Country/Community Resilience: Nexus for National Security.”, an initiative designed to equip citizens with both technical knowledge and practical skills to proactively manage insecurity and conflict situations within their communities.

It focuses on leveraging community strengths, taking ownership of security, creating their own surveillance teams, and moving from reactive to pro-active form of security management.

He said, “From insurgency in the North-East by Boko Haram and ISWAP, to armed banditry and kidnappings in various regions, to farmer–herder conflicts in the North-Central, and separatist tensions in the South-East, the nation continues to grapple with serious threats. Even regions once considered relatively peaceful, such as the South-West, are increasingly experiencing security concerns despite ongoing interventions.”

He said the event, attended by Army and other security agencies, must go beyond ceremony. “It had to reflect the core values of our organization—service, preparedness, peacebuilding, and national responsibility”. Under his leadership, he added, CPFA-MN has made commendable strides in establishing an Emergency Response Centre in Akure, promoting peace and conflict resolution at the grassroots level, training citizens in first aid and emergency response, supporting community-based security awareness initiatives, and encouraging active citizenship in national development.

Chairman Planning Committee of the event, Brig. General Ita Nyong said, “The reality is clear: fear, uncertainty, and hardship have become pressing concerns for many Nigerians. These challenges have not only affected lives and property but have also impacted our national image, economic stability, and global perception. Investment confidence is weakening, and the question confronting us all is this: Shall we abandon our country to these challenges, or rise collectively to address them?”