FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo says that Nigerian government needs a combination of training, equipment, intelligence, and technology to end insurgency.

Obasanjo, during an appearance on the ‘Toyin Falola Interviews’ conversation, which was live-streamed on social media, noted that the fight against Boko Haram in Nigeria has lasted longer than the country’s civil war that took place between 1967 and 1970.

Obasanjo emphasised that the civil war lasted for 30 months. Although we thought it would last for six months. But this fight against insurgents and criminals has lasted for almost 15 years.

”There is nothing wrong with Nigerian military personnel receiving training in countries that have solved the insurgency challenge,”he added.

Citing his experience with the Niger Delta militancy, he said that he will not rule out the tendency of security personnel colluding with insurgents.

His words: “There are four important items and I hope that those who are in charge — military, executive, and legislature — know what they are doing.

First, there is training. There are different types of training.

The military is trained for conventional war.“If the people you are dealing with are fleeting targets or living among your people, you will need different types of training to deal with them.

“Among the countries that have done that fairly successfully is Colombia. Should we invite them to train our people? There is no shame in that. It is a specialised type of training.“

There is the equipment. The equipment to fight that type of warfare. It differs from equipment for conventional warfare.

The other one is intelligence. You need absolute intelligence. Can others trust us with the intelligence that they have?“The fourth one is technology. These four have to come together and do other things internally.

“Then you ask the military to be the one buying equipment. It is not done. The whole thing is an industry. It is an industry,” he said.

• Riley Moore

United States Congressman Riley Moore, has lauded the rescue of 100 abducted Catholic schoolchildren in Niger State, thanking the Nigerian government and President Bola Tinubu.

In a statement posted on X on Monday after a meeting with Nigeria’s National Security Adviser (Nuhu Ribadu), Moore said :

“I want to thank the Nigerian government and @officialABAT for rescuing the 100 innocent and precious Catholic school children,” more said, emphasising, “This is a positive demonstration of the government’s increasing response to the security situation and shows commitment to the emergency declaration laid out by President Tinubu. ”

Moore, wrote that the discussions focused on terrorism in the North-East and the killings in the Middle Belt, describing the issues as a specific concern for President Donald Trump and himself.

Moore said that the delegation and Nigerian officials examined concrete steps and actions that he believes could improve security if carried out fully.

The congressman noted, “There were concrete steps and actions discussed at length, that if fully executed, I believe will enhance security across the country for all Nigerians, disrupt and destroy terrorist organisations in the northeast and stop the killing of Christians (a specific concern for @POTUS and me) – particularly in the Middle Belt of the country.”

The congressman said US concerns were “positively received” and pointed to what he described as a “now established joint task force between Nigeria and the US” as an example of cooperation. However, he added that “It is clear that there is an openness and willingness on the part of the Nigerian government to work with the United States to tackle these critical issues.

“Now, that openness has to translate to concrete action.”

Image: WhatsApp

NIGER State Governor, Umar Bago on Monday, received 100 schoolchildren kidnapped from a Catholic school in Niger State last month.

They were handed over to the state government officials today, a day after military authorities secured their release.

The children – many wearing football jerseys and girls in long robes – were driven into the Niger State Government House in white buses escorted by a dozen military vans and armoured vehicles.

Welcome,” state governor Umar Bago said as he shook hands with some of the children and led them into a hall where the emir and local officials were seated to receive them.

According to a list of the released children seen by AFP, most of those freed are aged between 10 and 17 years.

The release of the students, who were kidnapped two weeks ago, was facilitated by the federal government last night.