The Commander, Infantry Corps, Maj.-Gen. Christopher Musa has identified good governance, population security, and solid economic development measures as measures for effective counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency.
According to Musa, these “must be underpinned by robust information operations which unify and drive other activities including military efforts”.
Musa stated this at the closing of a three-day seminar on Counter-Terrorism and Counter-Insurgency (CTCOIN) for Senior Course 45 participants at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College Military Cantonment in Jaji, on Wednesday.
The seminar was convened with the theme “Optimizing the Whole of Society Approach in CTCOIN of Operations”.
Musa said it was obvious that countering the threat of insurgency and terrorism which has bedeviled the nation for over 13 years would not be realized through military efforts alone.
According to him, other solutions to the fight against terrorism and insurgency lie in the education and integration of all segments of society.
“This way, every responsible citizen contributes meaningfully to the fight by complementing the efforts of the government.
“Accordingly, other non-kinetic players aside from the security forces are key to the success of counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations,” he added.
The Infantry Commander told the course participants that they were lucky to be exposed to important perspectives of counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency at this stage of their careers.
He urged them to take the lessons from the seminar seriously and keep them close to their hearts.
“I am optimistic that the college will ensure that all recommendations, observations, and decisions reached would be harmonized into a working document and presented to the appropriate authorities for approval and subsequent implementation.
“I also do not doubt that issues that need to be implemented in the college training curriculum towards improved performance of our armed forces in counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations would be adequately addressed.”
Earlier, the Commandant AFCSC, AVM Emmanuel Wonah, said the seminar was to brainstorm on ways and means to optimize the whole-of-society approach for effective counter-terrorism and insurgency operation in Nigeria.
