As part of activities to mark the 44th International Day of Peace, former Senator Haliru Jika has backed the launch of the Safe2Lead Bauchi Initiative, a citizen-centered governance and security programme aimed at embedding peace, restoring trust, and strengthening accountability across communities in Bauchi State.

In a statement, Jika said the initiative reflects Bauchi’s belief that peace is not merely the absence of conflict but the presence of justice, inclusion, and dignity.

The former senator, who represented Bauchi Central in the 9th Assembly, explained that Safe2Lead offers a holistic approach by integrating institutional reform, participatory governance, community policing, youth engagement, and cultural diplomacy into one strategy.

He revealed that 253,000 Safer Bauchi Marshals will be mobilised across the state’s wards to support community policing, provide intelligence, and strengthen local peace structures.

“These marshals will serve as the backbone of a citizen-driven security system, with all 20 local government areas fully engaged through the creation of Community Reorientation Committees (CRCs). These committees will give citizens a formal platform to voice concerns, track development, and shape local security responses,” he said.

“The initiative places citizens at the heart of governance reform, blending modern tools such as e-governance and anti-corruption systems with cultural strengths like festivals, heritage diplomacy, and community networks.

“By doing so, Safe2Lead Bauchi ensures that peace is not imported but built from within. This approach supports Bauchi’s wider transformation agenda, which includes job creation, universal education, improved healthcare, renewable energy access, and environmental stewardship.”

Malam Haruna Ibrahim, Programme Director of the Better Bauchi Initiative, stated that Safe2Lead Bauchi is designed to give citizens a genuine stake in security and governance.

“From Community Reorientation Committees in every LGA to 253,000 marshals on the ground, this initiative is showing that peace is strongest when it is citizen-driven and locally owned,” he said.

Programme Director of the Safer Nigeria Initiative, Victor Wilkinson Agih, added that Safe2Lead Bauchi aligns with Nigeria’s broader security and governance priorities.

“It demonstrates how states can lead from the ground up, putting citizens first and showing that peacebuilding is not abstract — it is practical, measurable, and transformative,” he said.

“This is not just about preventing conflict; it is about building an inclusive society where peace, justice, and development reinforce one another.”