‘Nigeria’s Counter-Terrorism Efforts to Serve as a Blueprint for West Africa’
Nigeria is adopting a comprehensive strategy integrating inter-agency collaboration, cross-border partnerships, and advanced counter-terrorism training.
Speaking at the opening of the Counter Terrorism Theory and Practice Course, Maj.-Gen. Adamu Laka, the National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), emphasized the importance of collaboration at all levels to address terrorism’s complex and transnational nature.
The program, which was organised in collaboration with the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Uk, on Monday in Abuja, Laka highlighted that terrorism knows no borders, and as a result, Nigeria’s efforts cannot exist in isolation.
He called for stronger interagency collaboration within the country and cross-border partnerships to stem the tide of extremism that continues to threaten the region.
The course is facilitated through the Nigeria-UK Strategic Defence Partnership, supported by the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and the UK Counter Terrorism Team.
According to him, there is no doubt that terrorism has a profound negative impact on the nation, its citizens, as well as international partners.
Laka said that acts by terrorists and other criminal elements must be adequately tackled through continuous collaboration by security stakeholders.
He said that no agency could solely achieve laudable success in the fight against terrorism, emphasising the need to collaboratively identify individual crucial roles and collaborate to record great progress.
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“It therefore stresses the need for inter-agency collaboration and cross-border relationships to stem this tide because terrorism recognizes no borders.
“In view of this, the NCTC-ONSA in collaboration with the UK counter-terrorism team seeks to address counter-terrorism measures that could be employed in enhancing the country’s national security through this course.
“This course reaffirms a call to re-awakening for collaborative efforts which we all must embrace, as victory by one is victory by all of us and a greater victory for our entire nation, the African continent, and the world at large,’’ he said.
Lawrence Devlin, Head of the Counter-terrorism Network for West Africa at the British High Commission, reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to supporting Nigeria as it tackles shared security challenges.
He noted that the success of these efforts could have a ripple effect across the region, strengthening the capacity of neighboring nations to combat extremism.
“Nigeria’s leadership in this fight is crucial,” said Devlin. “By addressing the root causes and evolving tactics of terrorism, Nigeria provides a framework for other West African countries to follow, ultimately creating a safer region for all.”
on his part, Dr. Aaron Edward, the course facilitator, emphasized the need for a deep understanding of contemporary terrorist threats, stating that the lessons learned in Nigeria could be adapted to other regional
“Terrorism manifests differently across nations, but by sharing experiences and solutions, we can create a unified response to these challenges,” Edward said.
By PRnigeria
