That DIA Conference and Plaudits Showered on the Military
By MUKHTAR Ya’u Madobi
The unwavering commitments and efforts of the officers and men of the Nigerian Military on counter-terrorism have never gone unnoticed by concerned stakeholders , pundits, groups and other public commentators.
At many instances, civil society organizations and advocacy groups have hailed the Nigerian troops in waging wars against criminals nationwide, especially the insurgents in the northeast as well as bandits and kidnappers in the northwest.
This is due to the current visionary leadership of the Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, General Christopher Gwabin Musa with the support of other heads of Armed Forces of Nigeria.
The successes recorded by the military should of course be attributed to the manner in which it leverages on gathering and sharing actionable intelligence among its personnel aimed at enhancing security.
These behind the scenes activities are being coordinated and supervised by the military intelligence gathering body- the Defence Intelligence Agency, DIA, which is one among Nigeria’s intelligence communities.
As a testimony to the Military’s relentless quest in defending the nation’s territorial integrity against any form of external and internal threats, the National Security Adviser, NSA, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, was very elated and did not hesitate in pouring his floodgates of encomiums to that cause.
Malam Ribadu, noted that the contribution of the military to the continuous existence of Nigeria as a single corporate entity can never be downplayed especially at this critical moment when there is resurgence of emerging threats globally.
The national coordinator of the security spoke in Abuja during this year’s Chief of Defence Intelligence Annual Conference 2023 for Defence Advisers and Attache’s with the theme: ‘Leveraging Defence Diplomacy and Effective Regional Collaboration for Enhanced National Security’.
He said the armed forces under the current leadership had shown serious commitment to addressing the prevailing security challenges bedeviling the country, adding that there were positive changes and improvements both in and outside Nigeria.
“Under 5 months that we came on board, you, the armed forces of Nigeria have done well and you are doing well. You are the reason why we have a country like Nigeria today. You are doing a good job for over 240 million Nigerians.
“I want to thank the solid team of the CDS and the Service Chiefs. Today you have worked and literally made everyone comfortable in Nigeria.” Ribadu said.
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While commenting on the improved level of nationwide security, Ribadu said that, “On record, we used to have about 1,300 people being killed by violent attacks by criminal elements but right now, it is less than 100. In the Niger Delta, Crude oil production used to be between 700,000 to 900,000 barrels per day, last year but today it is 1.7 million barrels per day.
“Last year, in the South East, there were 46 attacks on Police Stations. This year, we have not recorded a single attack on any police station in the last few months.
In the fight against kidnappers and bandits, according to the NSA, from July to date, the armed forces and security agencies have secured the release of over 600 kidnapped people, including some who had been held captive for over three years.
“Today you can drive to Kaduna, even at night without attacks. Thank you armed forces for this.” Ribadu added while hailing the Military.
The NSA observed that the renewed synergy among services had led to the recent successes being recorded in dealing with the threats they had become increasingly asymmetric and the activities of armed non-state actors remaining prevalent in the West African sub-regions.
In his part, the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Abubakar Badaru tasked the defence advisers and attaches to aim towards providing a sustainable solution through defence diplomacy and code on better information sharing system.
He urged them to utilise the opportunity to energise the resolve to serve the country better in their various capacities while respecting the principle of certainty and non-interference in the internal affairs of other nations.
Also, the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Mohammed Matawalle, urged the DIA and Defence Attaches/Advisers to promote mutual understanding and sharing of enhanced intelligence. According to him, the Attaches/Advisers have important roles to play in an increasingly interconnected world where security challenges transcend borders.
He noted that the insecurity challenge in the country was not an isolated incident but a general phenomenon that required coordinated response and collaboration with allied partners by contributing significantly to strengthening the national security apparatus.
In his welcome remarks, the Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI), Maj.-Gen. Emmanuel Undiandeye said the agency was more intentional and determined in its efforts to harness the capabilities of the defence attaché system for the attainment of national security objectives.
Undiandeye said the current and emerging threats facing Nigeria were numerous, complex integrated, multifaceted and diverse with attendant security implications for national security.
The week-long annual event gives DIA the opportunity to appraise the activities of its defence sections all over the world. It also helps agency DIA to identify new lessons, discuss modalities for common challenges, as well as to strategize for the future engagements.
MUKHTAR is the author of a book on “National Security Strategy” and is a staff writer with the Emergency Digest.
