Security Consultant, Analyst and Public Affairs Commentator, Steve Okwori has warned that Nigeria is losing control of its security landscape, urging a move from reactive measures to proactive, intelligence-driven strategies to prevent attacks and reduce rising violence.
The expert said this while speaking with ARISE NEWS on Tuesday.
“I would say yes, Nigeria is losing its security landscape, looking at the indices and looking at the number of incidents and attacks that we are experiencing at the moment.
“I think that it’s time for us to see how to shift decisively from a reactive force operation to a proactive, intelligence-led prevention strategy”, he stated.
He added: “All we’ve been talking about this—time without number in the last ten years or more—we’ve been seeing reactive operations. How do we now change the tide? Let us see that we take this battle to where these criminals are. How well are we equipped? How well are we using technology? How well are we engaging the community? How well are we using community policing initiatives? There’s a lot that we need to do as a government, and also as security agencies and as citizens, but I’m not seeing that at work”, he said.
Okwori further explained that without actionable intelligence and proper coordination among security agencies, criminals will continue to exploit gaps in Nigeria’s security system.
“You see, these criminal elements capitalize on the gap in terms of our security operations. When you see a motivated offender targeting or looking out for a suitable target, and there’s complete absence of capable guardianship—I’m talking about the military, the police—when they are absent completely, the motivated offender gets at his suitable target. And that is what we are experiencing. It’s failure of intelligence, whether we like it or not.
“Because without detailed actionable intelligence, we cannot get these things to work. What are we doing? How well are these security agencies synergizing? How well are the military, the soldiers particularly, getting that synergy from the Air Force? Are they getting that air support from the Air Force?”, he questioned.
Citing the ongoing training by U.S. troops to improve intelligence and technological capabilities, Okwori stressed that a holistic review of Nigeria’s security strategy is urgently needed.
“We need to look at it holistically. You see, the government and our security agencies need to go back to the drawing board. We have U.S. troops that are already here. The essence of the U.S. troops is to train our officers in the area of intelligence and all that and be able to see how to use technology to monitor the movement of these bandits, these criminal elements.
“Time is of essence. Mr. President is in the UK today; I know that part of his trip is to discuss security. Some couple of weeks ago, he was in Turkey. So, we need all of this. I think it’s time for us to see that we don’t talk about—we don’t need speeches in security events. We need action”, he pressed.
Okwori noted that Nigeria mostly negotiates hostage releases rather than carrying out rescue operations, leaving kidnappers unpunished.
“Unfortunately for us here, we don’t embark on rescue missions when it has to do with kidnapping. What we do is to see how to negotiate with these criminal elements and get these victims released.”
He further revealed that ransom payments are common despite government denials and highlighted suspicious preparations for released victims, underscoring gaps in Nigeria’s fight against insecurity.
“Government may deny, but I know that government usually use backchannels. Ransom is not deniable. People pay ransom”, he said.
Okwori emphasised that the government’s foremost duty is to protect lives and property.
“We need to remind the government: the primary responsibility of government is to save lives and secure property”, he stated.
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