A former Director, Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), General Halilu Akilu (rtd) has identified lack of manpower and poor training as some of the reasons why Nigeria is yet to defeat insurgency.
Akilu, who was also the Commander, 146 Battalion that defeated the dreaded Maitatsine in Kano State, also said government’s failure to consult past security chiefs has contributed to the lingering issue.
He stated this in an interview with KAFTAN TV.
“I can say we have good leadership in the military, especially with the immediate past service chiefs. But the greatest problem is when you have lack of manpower, you stop recruitment, training of soldiers, you don’t ask for information.
“Since 2015, nobody has called me, and I believe nobody called Aliyu Gusau, who had been there before me. I took over from him as head of military intelligence.
“It’s our country, if we are approached, we will tell them the secret.
“Before 2015, we have a committee of former security chiefs; all former Directors of DSS, Army, Navy, Air Force and Police were members. It was a very formidable committee that met quarterly in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
“But, with the advent of this administration, nobody has called any of us. We didn’t ask for salary or anything, and this committee was dissolved unceremoniously,” he added.
The retired General who was also member of the Supreme Military Council from 1989 to 1993 expressed worry on how thousands of Nigerians lost their lives to insurgency due to the bad attitude of leaders.
He also blamed the ONSA for not doing what is supposed to be done, and suggested that the Gowon strategy be used to arrest the security situation in the country.
“Civil war was fought and ended in less than three years. When the war started in 1967, General Gowon advocated for remobilisation to recall all those who retired, including those who fought the Second World War.
“You recall well-trained, well-tested people to fight, not new recruits. This is what Gowon did and succeeded in ending the civil war. Why can’t we do that now?,” he asked.
General Akilu also blamed government on the rising secession agitations in the country.
“What is IPOB? We shouldn’t have allowed it to degenerate into this stage. Kanu was arraigned about 3-4 years in Abuja, but how on earth, a government that is serious on security, granted Kanu bail, which bail? A person who assembled people, killing security and civilians and now you want to grant him bail? What sort of system are we running?
“If Sambo Dasuki has been denied bail after many court orders, how on earth will you allow Kanu to be released? This is a terrorist, killing people. That is madness and stupidity.”
