For the past few days, something has been weighing heavily on my mind. Every day, I see Fulani herdsmen moving cattle across the streets of Abuja—on major roads, on busy districts, and even in the heart of the city. The question that keep nagging my mind is simple: What exactly are they doing there?

Recently, I saw cows being driven through Wuse, one of the busiest districts of Abuja. I looked around and asked myself: Where is the grass they are feeding on? What purpose does moving cattle through the middle of a city serve?

These observations have led me to a troubling rumination. Could some of these movements be serving purposes beyond cattle rearing? When people move constantly across villages, towns, forests, and states, they inevitably gain deep knowledge of the terrain. They become familiar with roads, footpaths, forests, escape routes and isolated settlements.

For decades, many herders have travelled through some of the most remote parts of Nigeria. In the process, they have acquired extensive knowledge of territories that many security operatives may never fully understand. This is one reason why criminals operating in forests often prove difficult to track. They know the terrain intimately.

The people who understand these terrains almost as well as the herders are the local villagers themselves. Unfortunately, most of these communities do not possess the resources, security infrastructure, or capabilities available to criminal groups operating in those areas.

This is why I believe the fight against insecurity must begin with a serious national conversation about open grazing.

Former President Muhammadu Buhari implemented policies that accommodated open grazing, but circumstances have changed. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has since established a Ministry of Livestock Development, a move many Nigerians welcomed as a step toward modernising animal husbandry.

However, if we now have a dedicated ministry responsible for livestock development, why are cattle still roaming major roads and city centres? Why are we still seeing unrestricted movement of cattle across states and urban centres?

These are questions begging for answers.

I strongly believe the government must take the issue of open grazing more seriously. There should be proper documentation, regulation and enforcement mechanisms that ensure livestock management aligns with the realities of a modern nation.

The world has changed. We are living in a digital age where information moves quickly and criminal networks increasingly rely on intelligence gathering. Security agencies must recognise that intelligence is often collected long before criminal activities occur. If the country is serious about combating banditry and terrorism, it must pay greater attention to how information flows across vulnerable areas.

President Tinubu's administration has also proposed and approved of forest guards to help secure Nigeria's vast forest reserves. While the initiative is commendable, I still believe the original concept of an "Anti-Bandit Battalion," as contained in the President's manifesto, would have carried a stronger sense of purpose, mission and force.

Names matter. An Anti-Bandit Battalion sounds like a specialised force created specifically to confront criminal elements head-on. It creates a mindset of engagement and determination. If possible, the government should reconsider the branding or structure of the initiative to reflect that original vision.

Furthermore, if state governments continue to argue that they are not constitutionally responsible for security, then serious questions must be asked about the continued allocation and utilisation of security votes.

Traditional rulers should play a more prominent role in local security architecture. They understand their communities, know the terrain, recognise unusual movements and often possess valuable intelligence networks that formal institutions overlook.

Many governors receive substantial security votes annually, yet insecurity continues to worsen in several parts of the country. Nigerians deserve greater transparency regarding how these funds are spent. How many states are investing in surveillance technology, patrol vehicles, anti-bomb equipment, and other modern security tools required to combat today's threats?

The challenge is too serious for business as usual.

The Southwest, in particular, must strengthen documentation systems for people entering and settling within communities. This is not a call against the constitutional right to freedom of movement. Rather, it is a call for responsible documentation.

Freedom of movement does not eliminate the need for proper records and identification. Modern societies document residents, visitors, businesses, and activities within their jurisdictions. Such measures enhance planning, governance and security.

We have already begun to see examples of local communities taking proactive steps in this direction. Recently, the Baale of Ijoko reportedly instructed the Seriki of the Arewa community in the area to present all members of his fold for proper identification.

According to the directive, any new face seen in the community after the exercise would be regarded and treated as a stranger until properly identified. Whether one agrees with the approach or not, the underlying message is clear: communities are becoming increasingly conscious of the need to know who lives among them and who enters their territories. Documentation is not persecution; it is a basic security measure that responsible societies adopt to protect lives and property.

Lawmakers at both the federal and state levels must therefore develop laws that strengthen documentation processes while respecting constitutional rights.

State governments should also learn from President Tinubu's approach to administrative restructuring during his time as governor of Lagos State. Some local governments across the country have become too large and unwieldy for effective administration. Breaking overly humongous administrative units into more manageable structures can improve governance, service delivery, and grassroots security management.

Nigeria is facing complex security challenges that require bold thinking, modern solutions, and decisive leadership. The time for excuses has passed. What is needed now is action, coordination, accountability, and the political will to confront these problems directly.

Comrade Bamidele Atoyebi is the Convener of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Ideological Group (BAT-IG), National Coordinator of Accountability and Policy Monitoring PR, and Publisher of Unfiltered and Mining Reports.