In the recent brazen killing of civilians and soldiers in Darajamal, Borno State Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu has issued a blanket order for restructuring in Nigeria military operations. The mass killing attributed to Boko Haram insurgents is a new evidence of insecurity since the convoy of the fallen troops had been ambushed in the northeast of the country.
In a statement, reported by the President, his government plans to restructure military operations by changing military operational tactics and also procuring new equipment for military and law enforcement.
Tinubu stated that they would also have stricter use of drones and, decent surveillance and investigation, before any operation. The President has also ordered the military, law enforcement agencies and network intelligence to work together to prevent future occurrences.
Following that, Vice President Kashim Shettima expressed sadness and sympathy on behalf of the government to the families of the deceased, and immediately went to the scene of the tragedy to convey that the government would seek justice. He stated that police/military tactics would have to change, particularly in terms of responding to changing situations and actions.
He also offered sympathies for the families of deceased victims. He emphasised the commitment of the government to help them.
To ensure long-term reform, Tinubu suggested future considerations for state police; his argument was that community policing and local knowledge groups on the ground will have a better understanding of geography, social groups, and even cultures than stationed forces and policing, which was deployed at the national level.
The order coincides with increasing military actions in the northeast. Recently, air strikes in Kumshe have reportedly killed dozens of suspected insurgents, signalling the government’s asserted commitment to pursuing offensives against the insurgency.
This order represents a major departure from traditional methods to counter-insurgency in Nigeria. The government envisages operations aided by security technology and a possible community policing arrangement would provide better security, and restore peace in the region.
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