INSECURITY: NSA, Service Chiefs’ Collaboration Yielding Positive Results

 OPINION

by Oyagiri Chime-emele 

Security of lives and property is one of the major responsibilities of government the world over. Any government that is found wanting to secure the territorial integrity and the lives of its citizens has failed its statutory responsibility.

Nigeria, just like some other countries in the world, is facing a myriad of security challenges, ranging from Boko Haram insurgency, banditry, militancy, herdsmen/ farmers clashes, among others.

On the assumption of office on the 29th of May 2023, President Bola Tinubu set up the country’s security architecture with Malam Nuhu Ribadu, a thorough – bred Police Officer, the National Security Adviser, NSA.

On June 19, 2023, President Bola Tinubu appointed his Service Chiefs, amongst whom, were the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar. While Kayode Egbetokun was appointed as the Inspector General of Police.

The appointments of these personnel was seen by Nigerians as putting round pegs into round holes and brought optimism that the security situation of the country would improve within a short period.

During their maiden meeting with the President, these security experts were given a marching order to work a team in order to achieve the desired results of entrenching the security of lives of lives and property.The result of the President’s instruction is the relative peace being witnessed in most parts of the country today.

Addressing journalists after their meeting with the President, Mallam Ribadu had this to say, “We are going to work tirelessly to ensure that we accomplish that objective of securing our country, establishing peace, stability, and lets get our lives back.’

Through various professional operations, the military, under the operational leadership of the duo and other security agencies have stepped up efforts to make Nigeria safer for all.

Nigeria has been in the grip of long-running trends of security challenges that have affected no fewer than 32 out of the 36 states in the country and the federal capital territory.

Quelling these rising challenges and rekindling confidence in the military occupied the attention of the security forces, especially the Army, as it battled to address the spiralling security challenges with relative successes recorded nationwide despite emerging operational challenges.

The military through the operational supervision of the COAS , has professionally deployed several kinetic and non-kinetic approaches to tackle the challenges, including amnesty and deradicalisation programmes for repentant terrorists who laid down their arms in the various theatres of operations.

For instance, in Borno, the epicentre of the Boko Haram insurgency, peace has been largely restored and communities hitherto displaced by the insurgency have started returning home to begin a new life.

Buttressing the above facts, while addressing the State Assembly, the Borno Governor, Babagana Zulum, said more than one million people displaced by the Boko Haram crisis in the state have so far been resettled by the government.

According to him; “They now reside securely with dignity in more than 20,000 newly constructed and rehabilitated resettlement homes across their ancestral communities in various local government areas of the state.

“Additionally, we have reinstated civil authority, provided essential amenities, and established livelihoods for the returnees.

“I am pleased to report that the security situation in the state has greatly improved and will continue to improve.”

The military operations in the North-Central and the North-West, Operations Safe Haven, Whirl Stroke, Hadarin Daji and Whirl Punch have been sustained with significant successes.

The land and air offensives launched by troops in 2023 had taken out several terrorists and their collaborators and helped to rescue hundreds of hostages from the criminals.

In the Niger Delta region, especially in Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta States, the Joint Task Force, Operation Delta Safe and other security operations in the region have also reduced the vandalism of oil facilities, otherwise known as oil bunkering.

The operations yielded the discovery and destruction of 636 illegal refining sites and intercepted 21.7 million litres of crude oil valued at N54 billion.

No fewer than 610 suspected oil thieves were nabbed within the period while 670 boats used to convey stolen crude oil and its products were impounded.

In one such interception, a 77-meter-long oil tanker, MT VINNALARIS 1 LAGOS, involved in crude oil theft with 17 crew members onboard was impounded.

No wonder cult related killings have drastically reduced in the Rivers state, with aquatic trades resumed.

These interventions have led to an increase in Nigeria’s oil production output to about 1.7 million barrels per day in December, a sharp increase from the 1.1 million barrels daily production as of August 2023.

An Abuja based Kogite, Mallam Bunis Adamu has this to say; “The armed forces is winning the war, and having the upper hand. No retreat, no surrender is the watch word of the military in this regime.

“I must thank the COAS and Chief of Defense Staff, who directs, supervises, coordinates and boost the morale of the soldiers. They should keep up the job.”

Another professional display of the military was during the conduct of the off-cycle elections in Kogi, Bayelsa and Imo States, in their conducts as testified by both local and foreign observers.

Bayelsa state, once a hotbed of militant activities is now adjudged as one of the most peaceful in the country as a result of military convert and overt operations over the years.

It has not been this good for Nigeria in the recent past. A visit to Jos, Plateau State will attest to the freedom even the visiting Europeans and other foreigners enjoy, as a result of the performance of the military under the command of the COAS and his team.

While commending the military for successes against insecurity, thanking them for changes recorded so far, advocating for love and mutual interest, NSA said; “They have done an amazingly good job without talking and I believe that with the support and the resolve of the leadership we have today in our country, things will only be better.

“Certainly things have changed and we believe that what they are doing, they are doing it right.

“We want to encourage them, stand by them and support them 100 percent and hopefully this country will be okay in a short time.

“Attacks on oil installations have also reduced drastically in recent times due to the commitment of the military, while insurgency-related deaths have also reduced in the North East and North West.”

Recently, in a clearance operation conducted in the early hours of June 12, 2024, troops of the Nigerian Army in conjunction with a Task Force Tactical Patrol Squad conducted a raid on a training camp of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN) located in Ihechiowa community of Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State.

During the operation, troops successfully infiltrate and dismantled the camp, destroying all training’s apparatus and facilities found on-site.

The raid is said to mark a critical move in the ongoing efforts to curb acts of terrorism by IPOB and ESN, which have been linked to various security challenges and violence unleashed on innocent citizens as well as security operatives in the state.

This invasion and subsequent destruction will redirect the economic situation of the South East that has been heavily impacted by the many dastard acts of IPOB.

The South East is greatly free today that people walk freely without any form of harassment or molestation.

According to an Anambra born UK businessman, Ugochukwu Silas; “This military operations is monumental and will change the narrative for good.”

While focusing on professionalism, welfare of men and officers under their watch remains a priority.

Nigerians hope that with more commitment, integrity and patriotism from these security chiefs, the country would achieve the desired peace and resultant development that will place it in its rightful place in the comity of nations.