Amid growing concerns over insecurity, recurrent abductions and attacks on communities in Gombe State and across Nigeria, the Partnership Against Violent Extremism (PAVE) Network has launched a 30-day civic advocacy campaign to mobilise residents towards promoting safer communities and demanding greater accountability in security governance.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Chairman of its Steering Committee, Jaye Gaskia, the campaign, themed “Protect Nigerian Lives: End Abductions, Strengthen Communities and Stop the Politicisation of Insecurity,” seeks to encourage citizens to move beyond expressions of concern and actively participate in efforts to strengthen community resilience and improve security responses.
According to the statement, the campaign comes at a time when many communities continue to grapple with security challenges that threaten lives and livelihoods.
“Nigeria is facing a severe insecurity crisis characterised by abductions, killings, attacks on schools and communities, violent extremism, banditry, organised crime, threats to livelihoods, and the erosion of community resilience.
“Nigeria’s insecurity challenge continues to impact communities through abductions, violent extremism, organised crime, attacks on educational institutions, and increasing threats to livelihoods, warning that long-term solutions must involve both government measures and active citizen participation.”
He explained that the campaign would feature community sensitisation, media engagement, town hall meetings, youth and women mobilisation, and advocacy with relevant stakeholders to promote practical solutions to insecurity.
As part of the campaign, the network will also support a national petition and participate in policy discussions on constitutional debates surrounding the establishment of state police.
While acknowledging ongoing conversations on decentralised policing, the network stressed that any framework for state police must include safeguards against political interference, abuse of power, ethnic profiling, and human rights violations.
The organisation further maintained that strengthening local government institutions remains essential to improving community security, noting that local councils play a critical role in early warning, peacebuilding, and service delivery.
The statement added that the campaign would be implemented across the state’s PAVE structures and affiliated platforms, including Youth Against Violent Extremism, Women Against Violent Extremism, and Media Against Violent Extremism.
The network called on Gombe residents, labour unions, professional associations, civil society organisations, faith-based groups, traditional institutions, and community leaders to join the campaign, insisting that protecting lives and strengthening communities should remain a shared responsibility.