By SWAI Investigation
Since beginning of the President Bola Tinubu administration, the Nigerian Army, as of necessity, has become more involved in internal security operations.
These are operations, which ordinarily should be handled by the civil police.
But this is happening because, over the years, the organization has lost faith among Nigerians in their capacity to provide internal security.
The consequences of this incapacity also have resulted in diverse challenges of insecurity in the country, ranging from terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, secessionist agitation, and oil theft amongst others.
All these, threw up enormous challenges, which necessitated the Nigerian Army to be more involved in internal security, nationwide.
Security Watch Africa Initiative (SWAI) findings revealed that in the last 4 to 5 months, the Nigerian Army has continued to keep terrorists in the Northeast at bay.
In Borno State, troops of Operation HADIN KAI have embarked on large scale offensive in the Lake Chad Basin, which have helped to stem the tide of Improvised Explosive Device (IED) incidents along the International Road of Maiduguri – Mafa – Dikwa – Gambarou Ngala, that had led to devastating civilian casualties in the past.
For the North West, troops of more recent have been on the trail of bandits that kidnapped the Kuriga school children. Just few hours ago, the troop onslaught led to the children being rescued.
Accordingly, troops are conducting combat operations on the fringes of Kuyambana and Kamuku forests that straddle Niger, Kebbi, Kaduna, Zamfara and Katsina States.
The result of this, is the elimination of bandit kingpins Damina, Yellow Nagoshi, and Alhaji Gambo.
Additionally, some kidnapped victims like the students of the Federal College of Education Gusau have been released through this efforts.
But the major hindrance against an all-out assault by the military on the forest reserves was that the bandits were suspected to be using the children kidnapped from Kuriga as human shield.
Troops in the Southern part of Kaduna particularly have stoutly responded to recent incidents of kidnapping in Kajuru as was recorded on the 17th of March, 2024.
This alone have led to the rescue of 16 persons.
In Zamfara, Katsina and Sokoto States, troops have conducted offensive on identified bandits camps leading to decapitation of combatants, recovery of arms and ammunition and rescue of kidnapped victims.
The situation in Plateau State, in the North Central zone, has largely been stabilized owing to military clampdown on militia groups.
In the South East, the situation has become very stable and the illegal sit-at-home order and other security threats have been curtailed.
Also, the surge of kidnappings that was recorded along the highways in Kogi, Edo and Ekiti states in the past few months have been addressed owing to troops’ surge and visibility in the general area.
But while the intervention of the military in the internal security is good for the country, some Nigerians have however faulted it.
They claimed that it is not allowing the military to concentrate on its core area of responsibility.
The Publisher, Security Digest, Chidi Omeje, speaking exclusively with SWA on the matter said “The military that ought to focus on serious issues of external aggression and internal insurrection are now being distracted by everyday crime and criminality in the society today.
“They are actually distracted. You may want to ask when was the last time the military did Joint Operational Exercise (JOPEX).
“That was 2010, during the time of Yar’Adua as President. They are not having it now because they don’t have time anymore. Because they are deployed everywhere in the country.” he stated.
As a way forward, he called on all the security agencies in the country to be up and doing and start to perform their constitutional roles effectively.
He also called for something drastic to be done as some of the security agencies are being underutilized.
Another Nigerian said “It is very very unprofessional for the entire country to be calling the Army in issues of internal security.
“This is supposed to be handled by a professional department of the police.,” he added.
Besides the Nigerian Army traditionally not supposed to be involved in internal security operations, the organization has overstretched itself to meet up with the frequent demands in the face of its limited manpower.
But it appeared that all these sacrifices are not been appreciated by some individuals in the country.
Because it was very sad to hear that 16 Army Officers and soldiers on peace mission were ambushed and killed last week by some youths in Delta State.
About three weeks before their death, 19 police men were also killed in the same vicinity.
It was being argued in some quarters that if the police authority had handled the internal security issue properly, the deceased Army personnel would have been alive today as there won’t have been any need for their trip to the community.
To change the current scenerio, it is hoped that all the security architecture and Agencies will start to do their constitutional roles effectively.
This will make the military face its primary responsibility of protect Nigeria’s territorial integrity squarely.
No room or laxity should be allowed to make the Nigerian Army be ill-prepared for any unexpected external aggression.
The watch word is to be prepared always.
