Counterinsurgency, Security and Merchants of Misinformation

By Ayo Akanji

National security is a serious matter and I do not think it is proper to discuss such details in a public forum. — Narendra Modi

When neophytes begin to speak like professionals on national issues especially sensitive matters bordering on national security – it becomes imperative to have an accurate narrative changing these alternative facts put out by merchants of misinformation.

Those who understand the complexity of counterinsurgency (COIN) efforts of the security services should lend their voices as a matter of national enlightenment in expounding facts viz a viz its trajectory and ensure the unsuspecting public aren’t misinformed on such critical matter of national cohesion and counterinsurgency (COIN) efforts

In understanding how insecurity seems to be springing up, although contained by the patriots who make the bulwark of Nigeria’s security services, the nexus between the inflow of dangerous weapons into the hands of non-state actors and the current security challenges are intertwined.

However a constant phrase by President Buhari, who has the privilege of a daily intelligence brief from the security agencies has consistently uttered one fact, the Libyan revolution which led to the fall of Ghadafi in 2011 ignited an avalanche of dastardly mayhem across the Sahel region. The flow of these weapons were compounded by major conflicts in West Africa and North African countries, notably Liberia, Sierra Leone, Cote D’Ivoire and now Libya and Mali.

It is important to note that, the Sahel region is as large as Europe, to beef it up currently there are approximately 5000 French troops deployed to this region alongside the Joint Force and the Sahel Allaince G-5 countries-Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger–with the sole aim of degrading the threat of terrorism. We must quickly add that vast areas around the country, especially in the northeast – hitherto part of the terrorists caliphate were freed from their firm grip and now under the Nigerian sovereignty.

Conversely, a report prepared by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) reviewing the security situation in the country, established that proliferation of small arms and light weapons is a global phenomenon arising from conflicts across the globe. Of the 857 million weapons in circulation, 10 million small arms and light weapons are estimated to be in Africa, of which one million are in Nigeria.

Furthermore, the government, utilizing a mixture of boots and brains, and simultaneously filling the political void by implementing various developmental projects-recharging of the lake chad basin which caters for the livelihood of over 40 million inhabitants, creating more advocacy internationally for the affected regions and the nation generally-are steadily outmaneuvering the insurgents.

We must note that with the interest of Franco-British-led Western intervention in Libya, the turmoil that followed the insurrection against Col. Muammar el-Gaddafi allowed for the flow of significant quantities of fighters and weapons from Libya into the Sahel and over 70% of these weapons found their way into Nigeria.

Conceiving a strategic blueprint with an understanding that in asymmetric warfare the importance of sharing intelligence and working with our neighbours is key, President Buhari embarked on a shuttle diplomacy to reset Nigeria’s relationship with our neighbouring countries under the auspices of the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF), which, pre-2015, could hardly coordinate security operations among themselves, not to talk of the leaders finding a common pathway in defeating the terrorists. We now have a scenario where cross border strikes are orchestrated against ISWAP and BH elements, their logistics bases destroyed and top fighters neutralized.

Presidential spox Malam Garba Shehu, rehashing Mr. President’s position on securing every Nigerian noted that, “He is working hard to keep Nigeria and Nigerians out of the harm terrorists have unleashed in the entire Sahel and Sub-Saharan”.

The infighting between BH and its splinter group ISWAP points to a fact that progress is being achieved against the enemy. 25 top commanders have been killed. Intelligence report has it that the continuous fire power from the armed forces influenced the decision of top commanders to surrender and renounce the sects’ activities.

Deradicalization and reintegration of terrorists as a policy has been on for a while, one wonders the reason certain elements obtuse this noble policy, an international best practice. It varies in Denmark, ditto for the Talibans in Pakistan – all of these programs have an extensive partnership with Civil Society Organization (CSOs) to show its transparency.

Operation Safe Corridor is a rehabilitation program for low-risk prisoners of war and their wives. The leniency approach mitigated the strife in Niger Delta in 2009, to improve governance; extend inclusion to broader segments of society.

Akanji, a security and current affairs analyst writes from Abuja.
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