Why bandits are getting more intelligence reports than military’ – Ngaji

A former security adviser to the Cross River State governor, Mr Jude Ngaji, says the fight against Boko Haram and banditry has been prolonged because the insurgents are getting more intelligence reports than the military.

He advised all the arms of the military to synergise with the Department of State Services and the police to gather the much-needed intelligence that could help tackle the rising wave of insecurity across the country.
Ngaji, in an interview with newsmen said the rise in insecurity was as a result of the collapse in intelligence gathering.

He said, “The security situations in the six geo-political zones are different and one major factor responsible for the spate of insecurity is the collapse of intelligence gathering. There is no real collaboration among all the security agencies; whereas the Boko Haram insurgents and armed herdsmen have become more savvy in intelligence gathering than the military.
“That is why they are succeeding. There should be a serious engagement amongst the segments of the Nigerian military, the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police for us to effectively tackle the security challenges. Once that intelligence gathering channel is established, I am convinced that we would be able to address this challenge.”

He urged President Muhammadu Buhari to consider having security advisers in all the six geo-political zones for effective monitoring.
Ngaji said, “These zonal security advisers will be answerable to the National Security Adviser. This is because the NSA cannot get details of what happens in the six geo-political zones and 36 states every day.
“I want to commend the President so far. But segmenting the office of security adviser into different zones will help. The whole attention has been on Fulani herdsmen but that is far from other criminal activities that must be eradicated.”

(Credit: Punch)