Insecurity: Service Chiefs Charged To Reform Sector

A security expert, Col Hassan Stan-Labo (rtd) has advised service chiefs to develop new national security sector reforms and governance template and avoid some state governors to end wanton killings across the country.

Speaking exclusively with LEADERSHIP he advised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to issue concrete orders to service chiefs to end killings.

He reiterated that the president must give the service chiefs job description, placed time lines, identified milestones, key point indices and resources in order to succeed in this task.

The veteran with a wealth of operational experience covering 31years as part of the Army’s Elite Infantry Special Forces Corps said though “the President and C-in-C has just appointed his new Service Chiefs with a directive that they fix the security situation on ground with a view to availing citizens some respite.

“Since it cannot be business as usual, it is my belief that before dispatching them into the battlefield, he must have availed them the following job description, placed time lines, identified milestones, key point indices and resources.”

He tasked the service chiefs to have a redefinition of the crisis on ground in order to mitigate the resurgence of killings and banditry in Plateau, Kaduna and Benue states.

He said, “Firstly, I will strongly advice they attempt a redefinition of the problem on ground.

“A redefinition would reveal the social, economic, political, religious and cultural dimensions that make up the eclectic mix that constitutes our security challenge.

“A redefinition would avail a clearer picture and perspective to the ongoing killings and genocidal effort as seen in the Southern Kaduna and also the Plateau and Benue serially motivated killings.

“It would also avail insight into the complicit role played by key persons in Government both at the National and Sub-National levels, while paying lip service to the situation on ground.”

He stated that the recent expose on former governor El-Rufai of Kaduna State and the interview by former Governor Yari of Zamfara State making a strong case of amnesty for armed bandits are clear indications that the service chiefs should be weary of some state chief executives.

He said the situation at hand demands for the engagement of all stakeholders in a fruitful dialogue aimed at unearthing the root cause of this recurring problem.

He said such discussions must have total representation of all segments of the society including; government representatives, community heads, religious leaders, youth groups, women groups and the citizenry.

“All groups above must leave such a meeting knowing what message to carry back to their larger constituents,” he added.

Col Hassan also advised the state governments to provide the necessary support to security agencies as they prosecute bandits and terror suspects.

He called on community leaders to establish good intelligence network, have a good grassroot touch, hold regular townhall meetings to review the security situation and be in close liaison with security agencies within own area of responsibility.

He also tasked religious leaders to serve as mobilisation tool, mouth piece tool and as a motivation point towards a peaceful society.

The veteran also tasked the military to promote inter service synergy incorporating the 3Cs of cooperation, collaboration and coordination.

He further urged them to provide at all time multi modal mobility transport assets to enhance response time under emergencies: eg helicopters, motorcycles, all terrain transport assets, and all seasonal transport assets.

He said the service chiefs must in order to succeed produce a National Security Sector Reforms and Governance Template; which should be far reaching enough to cover the large plethora of issues such as: funding, manpower, logistics, equipment, training, operations, intelligence, welfare, motivation, border protection, surveillance.