Defence Intelligence Students Applaud Governor Otti’s Strategies To Combat Insecurity.

The students and officials

Students at the Nigeria Defence Intelligence College in Abuja have praised Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti for creating an environment and atmosphere conducive to the State’s security agencies working together.
They stated that Governor Otti’s decision to convene a council with the heads of the various security agencies and the leadership of the state’s traditional rulers has greatly contributed to the restoration of peace and the current atmosphere of safety in Abia.
The students from Course 21 of 2024, who were wrapping up a five-day study trip to Abia State, expressed their concern on Thursday when they visited the Governor at his residence in Umuehim, Nvosi, Isialangwa South, as part of their itinerary in Abia.
They referred to Governor Otti’s strategy for securing the state as a “force multiplier.”
“We have also made some observations, Sir, and one of them, based on our interactions with so many (security) organisations that we have visited, is that you take security very seriously.
“They both admitted that you treat them equally, unlike some states with the big five and others. The big five sit on the Security Council, while the rest will report to the Secretary. However, that is not the case here; everyone is treated equally.
“This is the report we are receiving from the field, sir.” We have not been here. This is my first visit to Abia State, so this is what everyone was saying.
“Sir, that is a security force multiplier. Your strategy is actually what we refer to as a Force Multiplier because you will get a better result,” said Mr. Jonathan Nyam, Director of Studies Defence Intelligence, on behalf of the Commandant of the Defence Intelligence College, Rear Admiral J.A. Nwagwu.
Mr. Nyam stated that the students were astounded by the unusual esprit de corps they observed among the various security agencies, which they attributed to the Governor. According to him, “One thing we learned from the field is that there is synergy, and it is up to you to make sure that they work together. So, when we go to the DSS, they praise the police; when we go to the police, they praise the DSS. “They are all happy, sir.”
To continue to strengthen the state’s security situation, Nyam advised Governor Otti that Abia must be aware of what is going on in neighbouring states to avoid a situation in which criminals enter from other states, kidnap people, and flee to their hideouts outside of Abia. He claimed that this would aid in the eradication of crime pockets throughout the state.
Mr Nyam informed the Governor that the study tour for Course 21 of 2024 has a team of 47 students divided into two groups: 23 in Abia and the rest in Enugu, with both centres coordinated by the Defence Intelligence College Commandant.
He stated that the theme of their study is “Curbing Kidnapping for Ransom in Nigeria.” According to him, the Abia team is focusing on the role of intelligence in reducing kidnapping for ransom in Abia State.
Nyam explained that to enrich their research, they carefully selected and visited some institutions, including security agencies due to the abundance of data at their disposal; traditional rulers as custodians of our traditions/culture and the repertoire of intelligence that has not been tapped; and the Geometric Integrated Power in Aba to determine whether there is a link between kidnapping and power, among others.
Governor Otti responded by thanking the students for their accurate assessment of the security situation in Abia and reiterating his position that everything is dependent on security and that collective effort is required to achieve the desired result on security.
“We are all working together to secure the state. We recognise that everything succeeds and fails on the altar of security. If security fails, everything else fails, and for us, who are eager to develop our state, development cannot occur unless the location is secure. “Investors cannot look our way,” the Governor stated.
“We also believe that no security force can have everything. So, we have the Army, the Navy, and the police, but we do not have the Air Force. We do have Civil Defence, NDLEA, Immigration, and a variety of other agencies, including our own Homeland Security,” Governor Otti explained.
He praised the State’s multi-agency security force, Operation Crush, for its role in halting the spate of insecurity, particularly kidnapping, in the state, and promised that the government would investigate pockets of allegations of high-handedness and unethical practices against some of the team members.
The Governor, along with his Chief of Staff, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, and Principal Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Chinenye Mba-Uzoukwu, welcomed the Defence Intelligence Study Team to Abia.