Insecurity summit: Actionable Intelligence gathering take -off point in tackling insecurity in Nigeria- Dambazau
Security
By Doris Esa
Abuja, Aug.2, 2018 (NAN) The Minister of Interior, retired Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, says ” Actionable” intelligence gathering is the take-off point in tackling insecurity in the country.
Dambazau stated this at an Emergency Internal Security Meeting with Service Chiefs, heads of security agencies and para-military agencies on Thursday in Abuja.
” I believe that the take-off point for tackling insecurity in Nigeria is intelligence; actionable intelligence for that matter.
” We are not dealing with conventional threats, but peculiar threats that are laced with terrorism, sabotage, and efforts to manipulate our society’s fault lines of religion and ethnicity,” he said.
According to him, there are indications that some of these threats are politically motivated from the country, while some are induced from outside of the country by ” those who are not comfortable with Nigeria’s potentials”.
Dambazau said that others were as a result of outright criminal acts or violent extremism or both.
” Whatever the source of these threats, security agencies must articulate their plans to contain, control and prevent them.
” These threats not only undermine democracy, but also slow down our security and stability of our dear nation,” he said.
The minister noted that every business environment required adequate security for people to invest their wealth with less risks.
” It is of note therefore, that our intelligence gathering community has a lot to do, but not much can be achieved without coordination, cooperation and collaboration, as opposed to working independent of each other.
He said that there were certain issues that needed to be closely examined in order to successfully tackle the emerging security challenges that were currently confronting Nigeria.
Dambazau said that Ethnic identify politics contributed to conflicts in Nigeria, especially through manipulation of ethnic demographics to cause disunity and promote rebellion against government.
” The old age-old grazing lands and water resources competition between farmers and pastoralists in the Benue Valley of North-Central Nigeria, for example has escalated into violent ethnic and religious identity conflicts.
” In the last few years, sectarian and count-all conflicts including farmers and pastoralists feuds have claimed hundreds of lives and property across Nigeria,” he said.
He disclosed that currently, there are very large swathes of ungoverned forests that are inter-connected , covering Zamfara, Sokoto,Kaduna,Katsina,Niger,Yobe Borno and Adamawa serving as sanctuaries for armed bandits and violent criminals.
” Over time, these bandits and other violent groups have perfected a pattern of launching indiscriminate attacks on hitherto peaceful communities killing, maiming , abducting, raping and traumatising scores of defenceless citizens under several guises.
“The areas worst hit by these attacks include Birnin Gwari and the adjoining communities, southern parts of Kaduna, large parts of Benue, Plateau, Taraba and Adamawa states.
“These security challenges are relentlessly impacting on our national security and the response capabilities of the national instruments of defence, law enforcement and criminal administration, ” the minister said.
On the issue of Nigerian refugees in Cameroon, he said that efforts were being made to ensure the voluntary return of the refugees to Nigeria.
“We are currently pursuing the voluntary return of Nigerian refugees in Cameroon, while we are also in the process of entering such agreement with Niger republic and Chad republic, respectively, where there are thousands of Nigerian refugees.
” I believe that the success of our post-conflict peace -building efforts will largely depend on our ability to coordinate and execute reconstruction, rehabilitation, resettlement and reconciliation efforts, including de-radicalisation and counter-narrative programmes,” the minister said.(NAN)
ORD/AMY
Edited by Abdullahi Yusuf