We Need To Bring In Specialists To Win War On Terror – Retired Captain

       A retired Nigerian military officer, Captain Umar Aliyu, has stressed the need for the military to collaborate with specialists and professors in different fields related to counter-terrorism operations if the war on terror would be won.

Captain Aliyu, who is a Security Consultant, stressed that persons with special skills could provide the military needed inputs, data and information that would make it easier for the Nigerian armed Forces to check the activities of the dissident group, the Boko Haram, which has terrorised communities mostly in the nation’s north-east.

On Channels Television’s programme, Sunrise Daily, on Monday, the Security Consultant stated that the military could not tackle insurgency with dynamism alone.

“When you look at insurgency, you cannot enter insurgency with dynamism alone. That is where intellectual rigour comes in.

“What we need to win this war are in the heads of professors and specialists outside the military.

“A lot of specialists’ competences come into work in fighting insurgency,” he said.

Relating his comment to the experience of the newly appointed Service Chiefs, Captain Aliyu expressed optimism that those chosen by President Muhammadu Buhari would make good inputs in dealing with the insecurity in the nation’s north-east.

“The new army chief is very well nurtured in training and doctrine which is one aspect of deployment that is important.

“They have rich feedback to work with. They should look at what the outgone have done that they could do differently.

“Giving their antecedents they are people who have gone for various trainings,” he said.

The Security Consultant also suggested that after degrading the Boko Haram, the military should produce a blue print that would specify how security checks would be handled in hot spots and places where large number of persons could gather for forestall incessant bombings.

He also suggested that an exit plan should be set up for people who are about to leave the military.

“The Chiefs should actually be thinking about doing something about those that will be going out. We should be seeing a robust and a more inclusive plan. We have a lot of pressure on the army because the military has not considered outsourcing some activities to disengage more troops and make them useful,” he stressed.

Captain Aliyu urged the military to also ensure improved welfare for officials, as a motivating factor.