NIGERIA DEFENCE TEAM CHATS A KINETIC PATHWAY TO SUSTAINABLE PEACE & SECURITY IN NIGERIA 

WRITES LADY NKIRU CELINE OKORO with contribution from Amaka Chiekwe

MARCH 25TH 2021 ABUJA

“The state of insecurity in Nigeria is such that Kinetic operations have become imperative and urgent” Ambassador Abdullahi Omaki 22/03/21”. 

Nigeria’s new Defence team led by General Leo Irabor, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) at a one day National Defence and security summit held on Monday, March 22 2021 in Abuja pledged to do all that they can to ensure Nigeria & Nigerians live in a safe, peaceful and secure Nigeria.

Titled, “Promoting Kinetic Operations as a major plank for Counter-Terrorism and Counter-Insurgency in Nigeria- Issues, Challenges & Prospects’, the summit attracted the creme de la creme in the defense sector including the Honourable Minister of Defence, Rtd General Magashii, Minister for Information, Mr. Lai Mohammed, Delta state Governor Dr. Okowa, Traditional, leaders, Opinion Leaders and security experts. 

Sadly of the over 100 high-level participants to the forum, the female attendees were less than one percent, echoing the challenge that women and youths are effectively marginalized and left out in the policy dialogues on most national issues including sustainable peace and security.

It is a fact that Nigeria is confronted with several security issues and challenges, that pose immediate and latent threats on many fronts across the length and breadth of the country. 

Global and local media including research literature is replete with stories of insurgency, kidnapping, armed banditry, cattle rustling, herdsmen/farmers clashes across north & south of the country.

Systemic and institutional failures, overstretched security architecture, poor governance, and extreme poverty have been deduced as some observable reasons for Nigeria’s security breakdown. 

While these observations may be valid, what seems missing is a well-defined strategic model to handle the widespread and systematic security inefficiencies in Nigeria. 

To do justice to the theme of the summit was Ambassador Abdullahi Omaki, Founder & Executive Chairman of Savanah Center for DEvelopment.

In his 37 slide presentation, Omaki argued that Kinetic operations which imply maximum use of full military force on their own will not be enough to deal with all the security challenges Nigeria is currently facing.

He opined that Kinetic operations must be followed by an immediate and sustainable development program as used by the American Military in Iraq and Afghanistan. Said He, “ We need a whole of Government and a whole of Society Approach to counter-terrorism and insurgency in Nigeria”.

In adopting this strategy, The Nigerian Media including the electronic, print, community, social and new media must be an indispensable partner throughout the process. 

The media should be counted as an ally that can present a balanced account of the crises especially in the case of the North East, North West, and other hot spots across Nigeria.

Ambassador Omaki observed that the media campaign and its propaganda currently appear to be in the hands of the insurgents or criminal armed groups. “Neither the federal government nor the Military or any of the security outfits is using the Media in such a manner that correctly tunes the narrative crisis in favor of the state”.

He further stated that “it is not only important but crucial for the media components of our security agencies to collaborate with the regular media to ensure a narrative of the crisis we face to be presented without injury to the state”.

He identified a lack of periodic interface with the media as the major reason for the negative coverage that strengthens the adversaries. The Military must fight and occupy the narrative stage at all times.

Closely related to the disconnect with the Nigerian media of Nigeria’s security architecture is the lack of consensus of security threats by the political, religious, and leadership elite. Omaki notes that these stands inhibit the crucial support of the critical mass of our population around common national causes needed to ensure early national victory. 

Fallen heroes from the insurgency numbering in their thousands have not been adequately recognized and honored for their maximum sacrifice for the nation. Most were not given national burials. 

Perhaps creating a center of the national cemetery at the epicenters of insurgency like Maiduguri to honor the unknown fallen heroes may encourage the military and their relatives to give their best service to man and country.

Omaki noted regrettably that most Nigerians have not accepted insurgency in the North East & west as national challenges requiring the concerted effort of the government to rally the support of the political class, religious leaders, the academia.

An all nonpartisan approach is needed to galvanize for support and ownership

Governance challenges in Nigeria’s Democracy continue to pose threats. Nigeria’s democracy is not working as it has failed to impact significantly on the lives of its citizens. The impact of government is limited to federal activities, while most states are still not delivering the dividends of democracy. 

This has inevitably created a huge disparity in the development leading to huge ungovernable spaces that are easily accessible to criminal armed groups. 

The persisting high youth unemployment and lack of opportunities for meaningful sources of income create a pool of youths that can be recruited and used into criminal gangs including working as reinforcement to the terrorist.

In adopting the strategy of all of Society The Nigerian Military Architecture should as a matter of urgency make

1 Effort to win the hearts and minds of the people through setting up of community-level development committees. Army corps of Engineers should be tasked with rebuilding schools and clinics, markets and roads, etc.

• The persisting Inter and intra agencies rivalries among the Military must be addressed as a matter of urgency to create synergy and obtain the best in terms of timely intelligence sharing for more concerted operational and tactical utilization with a clear coordinator designated.

In Conclusion, Ambassordor Omaki opined that Counterterrorism and counter insurgency efforts in Nigeria may benefit from having kinetic operations as a major plank as this has worked in other countries and can be made to work in Nigeria. The prospects for kinetic operations must however be balanced against the challenges. It should not be a case of solving one problem and creating another. 

Curbing insecurity and insurgency is a war for all Nigerians. The leadership of the armed forces must promote robust civil-military relations that involve all components of the society including women, youths, and persons with disabilities based on the United Nations Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace & Security to win the hearts and minds of Nigerians.#

To Be continued: