FG Reveals Fresh Strategy to End Terrorism, Banditry, Kidnapping

• The Federal Government has unveiled a multi-pronged security strategy to tackle terrorism, banditry and kidnapping,

The Federal Government has outlined new measures aimed at ending terrorism, banditry and kidnapping across Nigeria, saying it is strengthening security agencies, deploying advanced technology and expanding intelligence operations to combat rising insecurity.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, Daniel Bwala, disclosed the plans during an appearance on The Link Up Podcast, hosted by echoRoom.

According to Bwala, the Tinubu administration is significantly increasing the number of security personnel, arguing that Nigeria’s current security workforce is inadequate for its growing population and vast land mass.

“We are investing in training and retraining. First of all, we’re investing in recruiting more security personnel because the one we have, they are not sufficient to match with the population and the land mass,” he said.

Forest guards to tackle terrorists

Bwala revealed that part of the recruitment drive would focus on deploying forest guards to areas where criminal groups operate.

He explained that forests have become safe havens for terrorists and bandits, who also exploit the country’s mineral resources through illegal mining.

“We needed to send people to the forest, so we have to recruit more and send them as forest guards. Those ones, the terrorists, are also stealing our mines and resources,” he said.

Police, military and DSS expansion

The presidential aide said the government was increasing the strength of the Nigerian Police Force, the Armed Forces and the Department of State Services (DSS), while also enhancing marine security operations.

“We also have these marine guys there. We’re increasing police, soldiers and DSS. So in terms of personnel, we’re increasing them,” Bwala stated.

He added that the government was also collaborating with paramilitary agencies and had licensed private security firms to provide additional support where necessary.

Tinubu withdraws police officers from VIPs

Bwala disclosed that President Bola Tinubu had already ordered the withdrawal of police officers attached to VIPs, noting that officers who fail to comply would soon be identified and sanctioned.

Government deploying drones and surveillance technology

Beyond manpower, Bwala said the government was investing heavily in modern surveillance technology to improve intelligence gathering and security operations.

“We’re investing in technological devices that, in modern days, help us when we are sleeping, which is the drone system, interception and all that,” he explained.

According to him, security agencies now rely on drones, intelligence gathering and reconnaissance missions to monitor criminal movements and launch operations with minimal risk to civilians.

He noted that security forces sometimes delay attacks until suspects leave populated communities to avoid civilian casualties.

Military partnership with the United States

Bwala also disclosed that Nigeria had strengthened security cooperation with neighbouring Sahel countries while expanding military collaboration with the United States.

He said special forces from both countries recently completed a round of joint operations, while additional personnel remained in Nigeria to provide specialised military training.

However, he declined to disclose details of the training, saying such information remained classified for security reasons.

“We will not tell the world the nature of the training. We don’t want our enemies to know. There are certain things that are classified because we don’t say it, people tend to think government is not working,” he said.

Kidnapping has become a ‘crisis economy’

Bwala described kidnapping as a growing “crisis economy,” explaining that not all abductions are carried out by terrorists.

According to him, investigations have shown that some kidnappers are ordinary Nigerians, including people who know or even live near their victims.

“The kidnappings and the abductions you see, which is a crisis economy, is done sometimes by the terrorist and at other times by Nigerians. Sometimes when it is done, they arrest people and discover that they are neighbours,” he said.

Community policing to be expanded

The presidential spokesman also revealed plans to strengthen community policing across the country.

He cited Lagos State’s neighbourhood marshal initiative as an example of the type of grassroots security network the government wants to encourage nationwide.

According to him, stronger collaboration between residents and security agencies would improve intelligence gathering and help prevent crimes before they occur.

Security agencies targeting compromised officers

Bwala further disclosed that security agencies were investigating and arresting corrupt law enforcement officers suspected of collaborating with criminal groups.

He pointed to the recent arrest of a senior police officer by mine marshals as evidence that the government was determined to tackle internal compromise within security institutions.

He also argued that insecurity often increases during election periods because criminal groups take advantage of heightened political activities.

Bwala urged Nigerians to assess the government’s security performance after the election cycle, insisting that the administration’s ongoing reforms would deliver long-term improvements in the fight against terrorism, banditry and kidnapping.