Why anti-terrorism war is ineffective –SSS, Army

The State Security Service and the Nigerian Army have blamed the ineffectiveness of the crusade against terrorism in the country on the lack of collaboration among the various security agencies.

According to the SSS and the Army, surmounting the prevailing security challenges require the active collaboration of all stakeholders.


Representatives of the two security outfits stated this at a workshop organised by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps College of Security Management for security agencies in Ogun State.

The Director of the SSS in the state, Mr. Joseph Okpo, in a paper entitled ‘National Security: Question for all Security Agencies’, argued that since the role of the various security agencies in maintaining security was complementary, it would be impossible for any arm to arrogate the successful execution of the task to itself alone.

Okpo, represented by a Deputy Director in the service, Mr. Fabian Ebri, said no security agency could successfully combat terrorism without the assistance of other agencies.

According to him, the acts setting up the Civil Defence Corps, the SSS and the police enjoined them to prevent any act of terrorism directed against the country and to protect lives and property.

He said, “To surmount the prevailing security challenges, there is the need for active collaboration of all stakeholders. Every agency must play its role and play it well. The functions of security agencies dovetail into each other to produce a harmonious whole. There should be no brickbats whatsoever. The roles are complementary, and each has a point of focus.”

He, therefore, canvassed a new national security policy that would encourage an intelligence sharing that is more robust, joint training for personnel of as well as capacity building for all the security agencies.

The Brigade Commander of the 35 Artillery Brigade, Alamala, Abeokuta, Brig.-Gen. David Ahmadu, frowned on the lack of cooperation among the security agencies.

Ahmadu, represented by the Garrison Commander, 35 Artillery Brigade, Col. Feyi David, blamed the problem on pride on the part of all the agencies.

He said, Most of our roles are overlapping, and the fear of the possibility of diminishing importance in the security architecture has made cooperation between the agencies elusive.

It is to our advantage that the capacities of the various agencies are utilised to complement each other’s inadequacies and enhance our capacities. This would further enhance our proficiency.

The Provost, Civil Defence College of Security Management, Commandant Adekunle Elesin, urged the security agencies to strategise on how to intensify awareness on security and shun inter-agency rift and indiscipline among their operatives.


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