From Musa Umar Bologi Yola
Creation of the special intelligence cells and technical forensic laboratory are recent innovations that have improved the operational responsiveness of the Nigerian Army operational capacity to degrade asymmetric threats to national security. Director, Military Intelligence (DMI), Maj.-Gen. Abubakar Tarfa, disclosed this yesterday at the commencement of a four-day Combat Support Arms Training week, for commander, at Dickson Jalo Cantonment, Yola, Adamawa state. Th e commanders are drawn from the artillery, engineers, signals and intelligence corps. Th e Intelligence Corps was upgraded as part of the Combat
Support Arms in 2012, making the youngest corps in the category. DMI said other innovation that have aided the degrading of the Boko Haram terrorists are the establishment of the Lt.-Col. Abu Ali Shooting Range in Sambisa Forest, Special Forces Training School in Buni Yadi, and the 168 Motor Cycle Battalion. He described the innovations as “effi cacious” and had curtailed the menace of herdsmen and cattle rustlers in part of North-west and North-central zones.
“Th e Special Intelligence Cells were created in response to the particularities of intelligence collection in an asymmetry setting…while the Technical Forensic Laboratory was to improve the technical intelligence acquisition and analysis of the Nigerian Army Intelligence Corps,” he said. He said the training would provide the Combat Support Arms the platform to showcase their state of combat readiness as well as to review operational strategies to better support the main arm in the ongoing and future military operations.
“It is furtherance of this tradition and in realisation challenges that the theme of COSAT 2017, “Improving Combat Support Synergy as a Force Multiplier in Counter Insurgency Operations” is approved by the Chief of Army Staff ,” he said. “Th e theme underscores the need fpor improved synergy amongst the combat support arms to ensure the fi nal physical and psychological defeat of Boko Haram in the ongoing counter-terrorism and future military operations.”
Chief of Army Staff , Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, said the outcome of the training would bring a new impetus to improving professionalism among Combat Support Arms in the Nigerian Army, and “help to enhance expected synergy of the arms in in delivering the required support to the army in meeting with her constitutional responsibilities.” Governor of Adamawa state, Muhammed Umar Jibrilla, commended the military for the relative peace being enjoyed in the North-east, particularly in Adamawa.
