Lawmaker representing Yagba Federal Constituency in Kogi State, Leke Abejide, has proposed the deployment of “fortified hunters” as part of a community-driven approach to tackle rising insecurity and banditry across Nigeria.

Speaking on Thursday during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, Abejide said local communities must take a frontline role in addressing security challenges, backing renewed calls for the creation of state police.

Referencing what he described as a community security model in his constituency, the lawmaker said traditional institutions had been mobilised to support organised local security outfits.

He explained that in his constituency, which comprises 71 communities, groups of trained local hunters were being integrated into a structured security arrangement to monitor and respond to threats, particularly in border areas close to Niger State.

According to him, the initiative was developed after consultations with traditional rulers and engagement with relevant security authorities, including the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

Abejide said the groups were tasked with proactive forest patrols aimed at preventing attacks rather than reacting to them, adding that members were paid and motivated to sustain operations.

He claimed the model had recorded results in his constituency and was being expanded with additional personnel.

The lawmaker argued that relying solely on federal security agencies would not resolve the country’s insecurity challenges, urging elected representatives and communities to contribute directly to security efforts.

His remarks come amid renewed incidents of banditry and mass abductions in parts of the country, including reported kidnappings of students and teachers in Oyo and Borno states, which have heightened public concern over safety.

The comments align with ongoing national debates around decentralising policing and strengthening local security frameworks.