THE ROLE OF TRADITIONAL RULERS IN NATIONAL SECURITY
Insecurity is a critical issue in Nigeria, and has hampered industrialization and sustainable development. The growing unprecedented incidence of insecurity ranges from the activities of Fulani Herdsmen, Boko Haram insurgencies, incessant killings in the South-east by the 'unknown gun men,armed robbery and banditary, kidnapping, political and religious crisis, murder, destruction of oil facilities by Niger Delta militants to Child abduction and traffickingin different parts of the country. Reports have shown that unless local approaches that incorporate tactics beyond kinetics as strategies to prevent violent crimes are employed, Africa's many national and regional efforts to combat insecurity will fail to deliver sustainable and credible peace. Traditional rulers have been a major factor in the unity of the nation. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the role of traditional rulers in national security architecture. The paper will examine overview of insecurity in Nigeria, imperative of traditional rulers in security management and roles of the traditional rulers in the maintenance of national security. It will also discuss challenges militating against the involvement of traditional rulers in national security and proffer solutions as the way forward. This paper will focus on traditional rulers in Nigeria.The aim of this paper is to highlight the role of traditional rulers in national security with view to making recommendations. The method employed is the critical and analytical methods of inquiry.
Keywords: national, role, rulers, security, traditional