NNEWI — A retired United States Army officer and military strategist, Col. Chukwuemeka Olunkwa, has identified disciplined security leadership, intelligence fusion, a credible justice system, economic protection and community trust as critical measures needed to address Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.
Olunkwa, an Iraq War veteran, made the call while delivering the keynote address at the 6th Sam Momah Annual Lecture Series (SMALS6) and the commissioning of the fifth library established by the Sam Momah Foundation in Nnewi, Anambra State.
Speaking on the country’s security challenges, which he described as a “criminological analysis” rather than a military briefing, the retired colonel said Nigeria could not overcome insecurity through military force alone.
He explained that the country’s security problems were linked to a combination of political, social, economic and institutional failures, stressing that a comprehensive strategy involving various sectors was required to effectively tackle terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other forms of criminality.
According to him, disciplined security leadership, effective intelligence sharing, a credible justice system, protection of the economy and the restoration of trust between communities and security agencies were essential to addressing the crisis.
“Nigerian insecurity challenge cannot be solved by military forces alone. Nigeria requires disciplined security leadership, intelligence fusion, justice sector credibility, economic protection and community legitimacy,” he said.
Olunkwa, who served as a liaison training officer with the Multinational Forces in Iraq, said his experiences from four deployments each in Iraq and Afghanistan had exposed him to the factors that enable criminal networks to thrive.
He noted that poverty, unemployment, weak institutions and poor governance often created an environment where criminal activities could flourish.
The retired military officer expressed concern over the growing kidnapping economy in Nigeria, describing it as a shameful development and warning that criminal activities had become a major source of income for some individuals and groups.
“The urgent subject, living subject, the consequential subject is Nigeria. The subject is banditry consuming our communities, the jihadist insurgency that has infiltrated our communities, cult and religious violence in our universities and communities, and the kidnapping economy that is now generating more income for some people than the petroleum industry,” he said.
Olunkwa argued that the military alone could not provide a lasting solution to the country’s security challenges, stressing the importance of political leadership, effective policing and intelligence gathering.
He estimated that the military contributed about seven per cent to resolving insecurity, while political action accounted for 43 per cent and policing and intelligence contributed 40 per cent.
He therefore urged political leaders to prioritise the empowerment of young people and communities, saying that improved economic opportunities and stronger community engagement would encourage citizens to cooperate with security agencies.
“If politicians use their funds to empower the youths and communities, the government will get cooperation in the fight against insecurity and the system will change,” he said.
The former US Army officer further noted that Nigeria’s prolonged insecurity had led to thousands of deaths, displaced millions of people and caused significant economic losses.
He also identified weak prosecution of criminal cases as one of the factors sustaining insecurity, arguing that criminals would continue to operate when the justice system failed to ensure that offenders were effectively prosecuted and punished.
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu, Major General Oluremi Fadairo, who was represented at the event by Brigadier General Solomon Julius, called for stronger collaboration among the government, citizens and security agencies in the fight against insecurity.
Fadairo commended the Sam Momah Foundation for its efforts to promote education through the establishment of libraries across the country, describing education as an important component of national security.
“Leaders are readers and education is security for the state to succeed,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, the pioneer Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Prof. Elochukwu Amucheazi, attributed part of Nigeria’s worsening insecurity to poor political leadership.
Amucheazi alleged that some politicians had become disconnected from the realities of insecurity faced by ordinary Nigerians because of the level of protection available to them.
“It is unfortunate that the people at the upper class, particularly the politicians, do not care about insecurity in the country because somehow they are protected,” he said.
He urged political leaders to change their attitude towards the security challenges confronting the country, describing some of their actions and responses as unacceptable.
“Nigerian politicians should get new orientation; their behaviour these days are irritating,” he added.
Olunkwa Lists Disciplined Security Leadership, Intelligence Fusion, Justice as Solutions to Nigeria’s Insecurity
