Defence Intelligence and Counter-Insurgency

Defence Intelligence and Counter-Insurgency

By Mukhtar Ya’u Madobi

For years, Nigeria has found itself in an unprecedented quagmire occasioned by a number of security challenges brought about by the activities of different groups of non-state actors.

These included but not limited to insurgents, bandits and kidnappers, ethnic militias, secessionists, armed robbers, cultists, Yahoo boys, militants, drug traffickers etc.

Meanwhile, the military as well as other security agencies have been unrelenting in their efforts towards surmounting these insecurity in an attempt to ensure peace and restore normalcy to the troubled territories across the nooks and crannies of the country.

Over the years, the lingering issue seems to be defying all sorts of solution implemented to curtail its spread. However, the renewed Counter-Insurgency and Counter-terrorism operations by the Armed Forces of Nigerian (AFN) around insurgents-ravaged Northeastern and bandits-infested Northwestern regions of Nigeria have since began turning the pages positively.

The onslaught against these terrorists by the combined efforts of AFN including the Army, Air Force, Navy and other security forces as well as the coordination of intelligence services by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) has over the months exposed the weaknesses in the criminals’ camps as they are being decimated while their hideouts are equally destroyed on a regular basis.

Recently, the public space was greeted with the success stories of troops of the Nigerian Army with the combined efforts of the Nigerian Air Force neutralized over 200 ISWAP top commanders along side their fighters in Bama axis, the north central part of Borno.

Not only that, the bombardments forced many fleeing terrorists into drowning in a river around Dipchari village of Bama Local Government Area, which eventually resulted to their death.

Also, in Igabi and Birnin Gwari axes of Kaduna State, the joint operations by Nigerian military Air Task Force and ground troops is yielding much successes as many terrorists are being neutralized.

Exclusive report published by Daily Trust also corroborated the recent success of the military against these long-time vicious marauders. It was noted that, the insurgents are losing ground, thereby running short of weapons, food and other logistics as a result of the sustained military offensive couple with flooding that has been overrunning their enclaves.

It is therefore not surprising that the security services and lately the DIA have been receiving encomiums from individuals and groups on accomplishments in counter-insurgency efforts.

In one of such occasions the Emerging Leaders Forum of Nigeria (ELFON) applauded the DIA for its unceasing counter-insurgency operations across the length and breadth of the country.

This commendation was made by the group after DIA accredited 13 Foreign Defence Advisers and Attachés posted to Nigeria by their respective nations.

The National President of ELFON, Godstime Chukwubuikem Samuel, expressed delight on the DIA’s behind the scene activities which facilitated smooth operations of security services.

“For the past one year now, we have noted with interest the tremendous innovations and results from the stable of the DIA. The agency’s machinery, in partnership with sister security and intelligence agencies, successes are being recorded in counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations across the North East region; while serviceable intelligence is daily provided for the anti-corruption agencies as part of numerous covet but successful operations to aid national security and anti-corruption drive,” Samuel added.

While reacting to the #EndSARS protests in 2020, the group maintained that, the excellent efforts of the spy agency chief, General Samuel Adebayo was very impactful in curtailing the widespread of the public disorder after what originally started as peaceful demonstration turned to become an upheaval.

He said: “Also, in synergy with other security agencies and organised youth and student groups, Maj.Gen. Adebayo’s constructive actions before, during, and after the #EndSARS, did a lot to curtail the possible irreparable backlashes of clandestine elements that at some points seized control of the peaceful #EndSARS protests right from his days as the Chief of Military Intelligence.”

Meanwhile, regarding inter-agency collaboration, one notices the sustained intelligence and robust enforcement/joint operations among security services that have brought about recognisable accomplishments in the battle against internet frauds, kidnapping, banditry, arms trafficking, militancy, economic crimes, and terrorism.

Mukhtar is a Staff Writer with the Emergency Digest