Review internal security, expert advises new service chiefs
Prof. Oyesoji Aremu, a security scholar in the University of Ibadan on Wednesday, advised the new service chiefs to review internal security of the country, given various insecurity challenges.
Aremu stated this in an interview with newsmen in Ibadan .
He said that President Muhammadu Buhari should be given the credit for replacing the service chiefs who, he said, had served for long.
“It should, however, be noted that the euphoria of the replacement of the former service chiefs come with some introspection especially as it relates to the need to rejig internal security.
“The country is bedeviled with the resurgence of banditry in the North West, Boko Haram war in the North East and kidnapping cases in many parts of the country.
“While the question of internal security is the sole prerogative of the Nigeria Police, the incursion of the military on internal security is a welcome development,” he said.
Aremu also said that the new helmsmen, being war commanders themselves and vast in experiences, would appreciate the enormity of the challenges ahead of them and so they must hit the ground running.
“Given that, it is expected that they engage in operational and reconnaissance evaluation while at the same time, increase the tempo of warfare in the hot spots.
“Also, they have to look inward by setting up the machinery to reappraise the welfare and morale of the officers and men.
“It is no gainsay that the morale is low and this perhaps accounted for some failed operations and intelligence recorded in the past,” he said.
Aremu maintained that for the front line officers to be more committed to the war to secure the nation’s internal space, they had to be well motivated.
“More than ever before in the country’s coordinated war against Boko Haram elements; bandits and kidnappers, there is a strong need for seamless synergy and intelligence sharing that will culminate in robust agencies collaborations.
“On this, the Nigeria Police and other security agencies would have to be carried along and seen as co-security partners. This could improve security dynamics expected of our security agencies.
“Moreover, the new service chiefs should covet the support of the public while at the same time, the public should support our security chiefs.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday replaced the former service chiefs with the new officers which are Chief of Defence Staff; Maj.-Gen. Lucky Irabor, Chief of Army Staff, Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, Chief of Naval Staff; Rear Adm. Awwal Zubairu Gambo and Chief of Air Staff; Air-Vice Marshal Isiaka Oladayo Amao.
