Beyond Intelligence Gathering and Sharing

Beyond Intelligence Gathering and Sharing

By Mukhtar Ya’u Madobi

The Nigeria’s foremost military intelligence body, i.e. the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), formerly known as National Security Organization (NSO), was established in 1986, with the sole aim of providing the much needed intelligence to the Armed Forces and Ministry of Defence.

The agency coordinates and maintains synergy among the Armed forces of Nigeria comprising the trio of, Army, Navy and Air Force as well as the Police and the Department of State Service (DSS).

Meanwhile, it also works in synergy with other international stakeholders in exchange of credible intelligence in matters related to security issues.

The DIA has over the years expanded its tentacles beyond intelligence gathering and sharing, but also engages in extracurricular activities in collaboration with other national, regional and international organizations aimed at achieving harmony and mutual understanding among them. This has undoubtedly led to providing a perfect avenue for both the DIA and the associated partners to accomplish their enshrined mandates of protecting their countries against any threats.

This can be corroborated with the recent hosting of Brigadier General Herve Piccillo, the President of International Military Sport Council (CISM) alongside Major Delphine Viard and the President of Organisation of Military Sports in Africa (OSMA), Maj Gen Maikano Abdullahi by the Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI) Maj.-Gen. Samuel Adebayo, when they paid him a courtesy call in his office on Thursday February 17, 2022 in Abuja.

General Adebayo stated that the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) is ready to partner with International Military Sport Council (CISM), and Organisation of Military Sports in Africa (OSMA) in dealing with challenges facing some Military Athletes traveling for Sporting events to other countries.

According to General Adebayo, a lot of accomplishments have been achieved over the past years in dealing with security issues by the collective Armed Forces of Nigeria.

Therefore, he reiterated his commitment towards ensuring that Military Athletes who are representing Nigeria in Military competitions or games as well as officials attending CISM or OSMA General assembly enjoy foreign and domestic military intelligence among others.

He said: “Security agencies are also doing their best but much more still needs to be done. So we are giving you our total support to assist your athletes and officials during and after any sporting activities.”

While responding, the CISM President Brigadier General Herve Piriccillo expressed his gratitude to the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) for always providing intelligence on foreign militaries and their operating environments before athletes trip to other countries for games.

He noted that this support has been very instrumental in making their job easier to discharge.

“We serve everyone from the president to the soldier in combat through a combination of expert analysis, intelligence gathering, and cutting-edge science and technology.” General Piriccillo added.

However, it is pertinent to know that, the International Military Sports Council (IMSC) or Conseil International du Sport Militaire (CISM), is an international sports association, established in 1948 with its headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. It provides an avenue where soldiers may compete for several form of sports activities on the playing field.

Also, CISM organises various sporting events, including the Military World Games and World Military Championships, for the armed forces of 140 member countries. The aim of CISM is to promote sport activity and physical education between armed forces as a means to foster world peace which is based on three pillars of sport, education and solidarity.

On the other hand, the Organization of Military Sports in Africa (OSMA) is a continental organisation made up of the Armed Forces of African Member countries. It is the African representation of the International Military Sports Council (CISM) and has its headquarter in Yaounde, Cameroon. Additionally, it was founded by Maj Gen Ishola Williams of Nigeria and Col Kalkaba Malboum of Cameroon respectively.

The main objective of OSMA is to promote friendly sporting and physical training activities among the Armed Forces of member states, in order to foster the culture of peace needed for the economic development and the integration of the African continent.

Over the years, sports have continued to be a veritable tool for enhancing national unity among various tribes across the globe. Thus, now that the DIA is throwing its weight towards promoting sport activities among military personnel, it will go a long way in providing mutual trust and cohesion among the personnel which will increase their productivity in discharging their mandates.

Mukhtar is a Staff Writer with Emergency Digest