Military alone can’t win war against insurgency

Military force alone cannot win the war against terrorism and insurgency in Nigeria’s northeast region but  a combination of sustained approach which targets every stage of radicalization process to reverse the extremist ideologies that have taken root in the region. The Chief of Defence Staff(CDS), General Gabriel  Abayomi Olonisakin stated this while delivering an address […]
The post Military alone can’t win war against insurgency appeared first on The Nation Nigeria.

Military force alone cannot win the war against terrorism and insurgency in Nigeria’s northeast region but  a combination of sustained approach which targets every stage of radicalization process to reverse the extremist ideologies that have taken root in the region.

The Chief of Defence Staff(CDS), General Gabriel  Abayomi Olonisakin stated this while delivering an address titled “ National Contribution to Global Peace: The role of the Armed Forces of Nigeria,”  at the opening ceremony of the Nigeria Security Exhibition & Conference (NISEC) in Abuja.

The CDS said  some of the new approach adopted by the government to bring long-term peace to the north east include  efforts to address identified socio-economic grievances, rehabilitation of radicalized members of religious extremists groups among others.

“ I  must emphasize that the main long- term challenge for lasting peace in Northeastern Nigeria is the longer-running radicalization dynamics that have altered the traditional mindset of many people in the region. We appreciate that military force alone will not counter such threats in a manner that brings lasting peace. Thus the government has adopted a sustained approach targeting every state of the radicalization process so as to reverse the extremist ideologies that have taken root in the area.

“ This includes efforts to address identified socio-economic grievances; institution of inter-ethnic peace building initiatives, rehabilitation of radicalized members of religious extremist groups and perhaps a measured use of force by security agencies.”

While speaking on global peace and the role of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, Olonisakin who was represented by Air Commodore Jimi Olalekan Lawal noted that Nigeria has a robust history of contributing both personnel and aid to global peace and security especially the deployment of military personnel to conflict zones all over the world.

Olonisakin said, “Nigeria’s contribution to peace building goes beyond participation of the armed forces; often we are the vanguard of the diplomatic efforts to resolve disputes in our sub- region and beyond. Some of the efforts involve military deployment to foreign countries with minimal media coverage, like the Nigerian Army and Air Force assets to Mali, Nigerian Navy and Air Force assets to Guinea Bissau. Nigeria has also provided Technical Aid Corps of civilian professionals to countries weakened by conflict.”

He noted that the conflict in Syria has witnessed overt interests of external powers alleging that such powers may also be at play in the crisis in the North east. “We are all aware that the conflict in Syria has witnessed overt involvement and competing interests of external powers, while such activities are not overtly displayed in our sub- region, we must not let ourselves believe that such foreign influences are not at play in the security challenges in Nigeria, or Libya or Mali.”

Olonisakin also said Nigeria’s strategy towards contributing troops for peace keeping operations would change following the lessons of Liberia and Sierra-Leone. “The underlying diplomatic and strategic objectives may change, in this regard; the unconditional sacrifices made by the personnel of the Armed Forces of Nigeria in the pursuit of peace may not reoccur in the future, we have already learnt some lessons from the sacrifices made in Liberia and Sierra Leone.  I say this because some Western Media are quick to give credit for the successes in Sierra Leone to the British.

“ As a matter of fact, United Kingdom (UK) media often credit the British Army and the United Nations for restoring peace to Sierra Leone and this is done in a manner that ignores the contributions of the West African nations  which participated in ECOMOG operations. Given the circumstances, we must look beyond the objectives of restoring peace. This also means we must map out a national strategy which determines the gains to our nation before we commit men and resources on a large scale as was done during ECOMOG operations in Liberia and Sierra Leone.”

Also speaking at the event,  Lt. Gen Chikadibia Obiakor (rtd) noted that to win the war against insurgency, Nigeria must begin to develop her own military equipment without relying on importation of military hardware. He noted that Sudan has developed the capacity for building military hardware through the Military Industry Corporation (MIC).

  Obiakor: “Look at the people in Sudan, I never knew they have a company called Military Industry Corporation (MIC) and you can see the range of products, it takes just one thing, the political will and committing resources. No country can afford to be importing all its security equipment, we just have to look inwards,  over dependence on foreign importations of your security gadgets has pitfalls ,they can put embargo on you when you need the weapons most, Nigeria has that experience starting from the civil war.. I know we have the capacity, I know we have the capability all we need is to be focused, there are men and women in this country who can do all these things.”

The Chief Organiser of the event, Comrade Frank Ohwofa said the event was organized to build Africa’s Defence institutions and a platform to share ideas on military and technical know-how among Defence institutions in Africa.

The NISEC Exhibition also witnessed military hardware exhibitions and representatives of Defence personnel from Ghana, Cameroon, Sudan and Ukraine.

The post Military alone can’t win war against insurgency appeared first on The Nation Nigeria.

Source:The Nation Nigeria