Army to officers: Brace for cyber threats, information warfare

The Nigerian Army has called on its officers to prepare for the evolving challenges posed by cyber threats and information warfare.

At a three-day training workshop themed “Enhancing Tactical Level Command and Leadership Through Effective Operations Planning and Capacity Development,” held in Port Harcourt, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division, Major General Jamal Abdussalam, emphasised that battlefield operations have expanded beyond physical confrontations into cyberspace, creating new vulnerabilities.

General Abdussalam warned that cyber threats and information warfare could undermine the operational capabilities of the army and threaten national security.

He urged officers to embrace these challenges by leveraging technology to strengthen operations.

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“The security environment is increasingly dynamic due to modern warfare and technological advancements.

“The challenges we face today-whether insurgency, terrorism, banditry, or oil theft-require innovation and adaptability in our operations,” Abdussalam stated.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army has trained its junior and middle cadre officers to respond to the growing threats of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) terrorism.

The training, held at the Officers Mess in Sokoto, was part of a broader effort to prepare personnel for Nigeria’s complex and volatile security environment.

With the theme “Optimising Warrior Ethos in the Nigerian Army: A Panacea for Operational Effectiveness,” the seminar was organised by the Department of Army Transformation and Innovation.

Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant Colonel Taoreed Lagbaja, represented by Brigadier General Ibikunle Ajose, emphasised that the seminar was critical to enhancing the army’s operational effectiveness.

He highlighted that the Nigerian Army is continually reviewing its tactics and strategies, including both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches, to address the nation’s security challenges.

The seminar also addressed the impact of drug and substance abuse among troops, which General Lagbaja described as a serious issue affecting combat readiness.

He urged commanders to innovate and improve man-management practices to maintain troop effectiveness.