Recently, security experts and stakeholders gathered at the National Defence Collage Abuja to brainstorm on the imperatives of kinetic military operations in Nigeria. BENJAMIN SAMSON reports.
It is no longer news that Nigeria is currently experiencing a wide range of national security threats like terrorism, insurgency in the North-east, farmers/herders conflict, ethno-religious conflicts, kidnapping and banditry in other parts of the country.
These threats no doubt pose danger to the corporate existence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, unity, stability and sustainable development of the nation.
Since his appointment by president Muhammadu as the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor has left no stone unturned in ensuring that he galvanizes stakeholders to support and collaborate with the Armed Forces Nigeria (AFN) and other security agencies in the onerous task of ensuring national security.
Kinetic operations
One of such efforts was the National Defence and Security Summit with the theme, “Promoting Kinetic Operations as a major Plank for Counter Terrorism and Counter Insurgency in Nigeria” organized by the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) under the leadership General Irabor in Abuja recently.
No doubt, the theme which was couch to reflect the need for the input of diverse stakeholders in addressing current security realities of Nigeria, was equally in line with the leadership philosophy of the Chief of Defence Staff which is, “…To foster a professional Armed Forces capable of effectively meeting constitutional imperatives.”
The CDS also said in his philosophy that he, “…Shall also promote active cooperation and collaboration between the military and other relevant stakeholders, key players, departments, agencies and organisations in aggregating our overall national resource endowments to comprehensively deter, counter, overcome or resolve all security challenges across the nation requiring military intervention”.
According to Wikipedia, “Kinetic military action is a euphemism for military action involving active warfare, including lethal force.” Kinetic was first used as a euphemism for military action in “Bush at War”, a 2002 book written by American journalist Bob Woodward.
Speaking on why the summit was organised, General Irabor said that the use of military force, particularly in the homeland, had been the most fiercely debated topic in public discourse, adding that people often took extreme and sometimes diametrically opposed positions.
According to him, it is important, therefore, that the kinetic efforts enjoy the understanding and sustained support of stakeholders, key players, the public and other significant stakeholders.
He said the security summit was aimed at sensitizing and galvanising support among critical stakeholders and the general public for AFN kinetic campaigns.
He noted that the summit would seek to discuss how to promote kinetic operations by leaders and eminent personalities in the Nigerian society who would contribute their narratives towards addressing the security challenges.
He said that the specific objectives of the Summit were to create functional awareness of the rationale for the kinetic efforts, promote buy-in and support of critical stakeholders and the polity.
He added that the summit was in line the presidential directive given to the Service Chiefs by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The CDS said that the military had restrategised to implement the mandate of President Muhammadu Buhari, for action to immediately stabilise the security situation in the country.
“Our strategic objectives are manifold and imbued to neutralise non-state-actors and other agents of violence in our communities, forests and countryside to stabilise the security situation across the nation, to facilitate law and order; and lastly to provide the enabling environment for peace and development.
“These presuppose that the military would need support from other security agencies during the operations and would be required to give support to others at different stages of the internal security effort.
“On behalf of the officers and men/women of the armed forces, I pledge our unalloyed loyalty to C-in-C and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The mandate shall be delivered; fear and despair shall be extinguished from our land. Nigeria will have peace again,” he said.
Magashi’s position
On his part, the Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (retd) in his remarks, lauded General Irabor for organizing the summit at a time the country is confronted with numerous security challenges, while reaffirming the federal government’s commitment to defending the sovereignty and unity of the country.
Maj-Gen Magashi noted that the current security situation required the understanding, buy-in, support and collaboration of relevant stakeholders and key players in this strategic option and national task.
This, he said is important to minimize distractions and maximize civil support in order to enhance operational success and mission outcomes.
According to him, the federal government has over the years leveraged on a multi-lateral approach with contiguous neighbouring countries as well as multi-dimensional efforts domestically to address, what he described as the multi-dimensional nature of the contemporary security situation.
Group lauds gathering
Also, the Unity Advocacy Group (UAG) described the summit as timely.
Welcoming the summit, UAG in a statement said it reflects determination by the present leadership of the Armed Forces of Nigeria under General Leo Irabor to aggregate ideas from every section of the country to provide solution to the crisis in the country.
According to the convener UAG, Ifeanyi Aigbedion, who signed the statement, “Bringing together the military and other relevant stakeholders, key players, departments, agencies etc by the DHQ is a welcome development. We also pray that the decisions arrived at the summit will be speedily implemented.”
Further case for kinetic approach
Similarly, the guest speaker and the executive director of Savannah Centre for Democracy and for Democracy Development Ambassador Abdullahi Omaki who commended DHQ for the summit said if Nigeria must survive as an entity there is an urgent need to adopt a kinetic approach to kill insurgency in the country.
Omaki said, “If Nigeria must survive as an indivisible entity it must adopt the kinetic approach to stop terrorism and all forms of insecurity plaguing it now. Fighting insurgency must involve every Nigerian as the military cannot do it alone.”
He explained that the kinetic approach of tackling insurgency was suggested first by a US journalist in year 2002 after 9/11 that encompasses applying full military force without much collateral damage.
He said the situation now in Nigeria has gotten to the stage to adopt this strategy to counter insurgency without necessarily losing the lives of civilians.
Giving vivid examples of where the kinetic approach has been used to counter insurgency, Omaki insisted that the National Assembly (NASS) has a role to play because the US Congress gave the US president full authorization to adopt the strategy.
He said it was this strategy that was adopted to bring down the Taliban Government in Afghanistan after all other military tactics had failed.
UK supports too
Also, the UK Government had to adopt the same kinetic approach to quel the Northern Ireland insurgency that started in 1969 but was finally subdued in 2007.
He said Nigeria is now at the point to adopt the kinetic approach using all levels of security agencies and adopting the use of science and technology.
He gave instances, including when a foreign country came to Nigeria to rescue kidnapped citizens without a shot because science and technology was used.
The attendees
Those present at the summit are; the Executive Governor of Delta state, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr Godswill Akpabio, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr Timipre Sylva, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj-Gen Babagana Monguno (retd), and Chairman House Committee on Defence. Honourable Benson Babajimi.
Also in attendance were the incumbent and former service chiefs, former Chiefs of Defence Staff, representative of Chief of Staff to the President, former Chairman of Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega, traditional rulers, the academia, diplomats and media executives.
