The former service chiefs had boldly declared that the Boko Haram insurgents had been technically defeated. But the technical victory, apparently, became a great a cost to have been worthwhile for the victor. This acclaimed victory came with the renewed wave of attacks by the insurgents on soft targets.
The appointment of the new service chiefs was came at a period when country is facing serious security challenges. Definitely, Nigerians have received these changes as something long overdue. Mr. President had expressed dissatisfaction with the performance of his former service chiefs when he told them point-blank that their best was not good enough. Also, the National Assembly had passed a vote of no confidence on the service chiefs. Similarly, Nigerians of all walks of life had called on President Muhammadu Buhari to sack the now former the service chiefs for non-performance.
Consequently, much is expected from the new service chiefs who should hit the ground running by tackling the worsening insecurity across the country that is making life difficult for Nigerians. Nigerians expect a total victory against all forms of insecurity across the shores of the federation not technical victory. Nigerians want to see a different approach in terms of choosing the right personnel to to take responsibility of safeguarding the country.
The intelligence gathering structure and efforts of nearly all the security and law enforcement agencies have almost made the war ineffective, due to lack of critical role of intelligence sharing in ongoing efforts to overcome security threats in the country among all the securities agencies. There is need for them to have good synergy between them and ensure professionalism in handling sensitive intelligence gathering as there is deficiency and uncoordinated in handling sensitive intelligence; they should avoid the infighting of we witnessed between NSA and others.
Last year, there were trending videos of high-ranking military officer and some soldiers criticising former chief of army staff for not supplying them with needed weapons and ammunition to combat the terrorists which contributed to their dismal performance. Therefore, the same mistake should not be repeated. The federal government should continue equipping the military, arrest and prosecute individuals found guilty of aiding and sponsoring of insurgents, kidnappers and bandits.
On their part, the service chiefs need to bear the onerous task of restoring the nation’s security and positioned to deal decisively with all forms of threats to security of the people.
The chief of days staff, who is a veteran and former commander of the counter-insurgency operation in the Northeast and Multinational Joint Task Forces, has brought a feeling of optimism, particularly in the Northeast. He will need to focus on improving coordination between the Armed Forces in furtherance of military operations currently on going in the different geopolitical zones — comprising ground, air and naval components. Alongside the capacity of the Defence Headquarters Special Operations Force. Chief of Army Staff a one-time Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, will be facing a difficult task of rapidly rebuilding morale and recalibrating the operations of the army.
There is need for the military leadership to focus on welfare and begin immediate relief for troops in all theatres that have been deployed longer than two years. Rotate units first and then open a channel for individual soldiers or officers who may have been missed in the exercise to rotate out. To achieve desirable result they need to fix the operational tour minimum of one year in the country.
Overall, the military alone cannot provide long-term security and stability or replace the role of effective law enforcement, we need the political will to solve the social, economic and developmental drivers and amplifiers of insecurity across the country.
Dukawa writes from Kano via [email protected]
