US Unwarranted Terror Alerts and Security Forces Operations
By Mukhtar Ya’u Madobi
As a tradition, the World Order at the International System is now changing from the unipolar to multipolar phase, as more countries are fast increasing their globalization status.
The dominant global status of that superpower state who thought it has it all, I meant the United States, is occasionally diminishing. Though they have the command of the strongest military in the world, but their economic strength is not as good as that of some Asian countries, especially China. Thus, multipolar world order is a possibility.
The same US that cannot put its house in order and ensure the adequate safety of lives and properties of its citizens, was last week busy, through its respective embassies in Nigeria and South Africa issuing security alerts, warning of impending terror attacks on the two countries.
Funnily, in its own backyard, it was reported last week how assailants had in the wee hour of Friday broke into the San Francisco residence of US Democrat House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, and violently assaulted her husband, Paul Pelosi.
Though, issuing alerts has been one of the strategies for averting national security breaches, Nigeria’s intelligence community in the Military, Department of Security Service (DSS), Nigerian Police Force, National Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) etc. have at various times issued security alerts ONLY when they deem it necessary.
It is an established fact that publicity serve as the oxygen and promoter of terrorism as it is the only thing it need to instill fear and cause panic among society which will ultimately make their evil job to be executed easily and simply.
This writer believe that instead of the US embassy making an irrational decision by rushing to the public with this information, they should have instead collaborated with Nigeria’s security institutions in the military and other sister agencies in neutralizing the security threats, if there is really one as at the moment.
Because, the federal government through the Office of the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, a retired Major General, has recently urged Nigerians and other residents to go about their businesses without fears.
While addressing the journalists, Monguno, alongside the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyema and the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Lucky Irabor, noted that the travel advisories had created unnecessary fear and apprehension among Nigerians.
It is heartwarming that security situations have continued to improve across the nooks and crannies in Nigeria. This is connected to the nationwide military crackdown against the non-state actors who are now receiving bloody noses due to the intense security forces operations.
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PRNigeria had on October 24 reported that no fewer than 30 terrorists were killed by airstrikes of a Nigerian Military fighter jet in Zamfara State after raiding the enclave of Halilu, the wealthiest and notorious bandits’ kingpin in the North West.
Also, even before issuing these alerts by the US embassy, the intelligence services and security forces are on top of their games, thereby working hard to avert severe attacks on Abuja, its environs and other states by terrorists loyal to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram. They have uncovered many terrorists’ cells and made several arrests with regards to this context.
Before the US alert, the Department of State Security Service (DSS) and other credible intelligence sources had confirmed thatmany terrorists and their collaborators who had been mapping and strategising on how to launch multiple attacks to attract global attention had been arrested in Abuja and neighbouring communities.
Recall that on Thursday, October 20, one Abubakar Dan Borno, an ISWAP kingpin who fled from the Sambisa Forest, was picked at Mararaba, a suburb of Abuja in Nasarawa State after days of trailing. The suspect was reportedly handed over to the military and taken to the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) for interrogation.
Again, as reported by Daily Trust, one Abubakar Musa, an ISWAP logistics facilitator, was also nabbed on October 24 after he was trailed and arrested at the Falgore village in Tudun Wada LGA of Kano State by the security forces.
It was learnt that many others were being trailed and picked as part of efforts to break the circle working hard to wreak havoc on the FCT and other major towns across Nigeria.
This is evident as another terror suspects were arrested by the security forces in Lugbe, Piwoyi and Piakasa, all under the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) of the FCT.
Again, fighter and surveillance jets of the Nigerian military are now mapping out potential hideouts of the terrorists, planning to wreck havoc. A senior military officer explained to Daily Trust that the security operatives were already on red alert following an order ‘from the above.’
“Following orders from the above, we, in collaboration with DIA, NIA, DSS and other security forces, have stepped up our games. We will tackle those criminals,” the military source assured.
Notwithstanding, the civilian population on the other hand should consider national interest by helping the security forces with relevant information that may lead to the uncovering of criminals’ syndicates.
This will surely be a game changer in the counter-terrorism operations by the military and other security agencies. As they say, security is everybody’s business.
Mukhtar is a Staff Writer with the Emergency Digest
