A retired Army officer, Brig Gen. Bulus Saliyok, on Sartuday called for massive recruitment and deployment of intelligence personnel as part of measures to effectively contain the level of insecurity in the country.
Saliyok said in Kaduna at the launching of his book ‘Terrorism The Untamed Monster in Nigeria’, that inadequate manpower was limiting the efficiency of security agencies to tackle the security challenges.
He added however, that good governance was essential to ensuring stability in any country.
“The government should combat terrorism through good governance, providing the military with modern equipments, structure, good legislations and to increase the number of the security agents which is low compared to the population of Nigerians.
“The number of our armed forces is not enough to engage in covert intelligence, they should be redoubled and deployed everywhere in our societies to strengthen the fight against terrorism.
“The legislations we have for punishments of terrorist are also not too strong, to deter the terrorists from destroying human and material resources of the nation,” Saliyok said.
He said that he was motivated to write the book in order to contribute to the intellectual discussion on best ways to end terrorism.
“During our military career, we usually analyze future warfare trends.
“I realized at one of my warfare training at the United State of America that the 21st century warfare would be terrorism rather than conventional warfare.
“When terrorism started in Nigeria in 2009, I reflected back and decided to write a book so as to share the knowledge with Nigerian populace on what is happening in the present days.”
Earlier, Dr. Ben Japheth, who reviewed the book, said that the strategies recommended by the author would ensure balance on every aspects needed to fight terrorism.
“In Nigeria, we are focused more on the military options and others seek to have a soft approach on it, the book has balanced both military options and smart powers to curtail the insurgency in Nigeria.”
He however said that although there is no consensus on the definition of terrorism, there is a consensus on the use of ‘fear’ by many scholars which is more catastrophic.
“Issues of national security and defense in Nigeria remains a paramount challenge which defense policies and other indispensable parameters such as territory, people and sovereignty must be put into consideration”, Japheth said.
