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Bandits

Disband NIA, DSS Over Incompetence-Rtd Gen Ishola Williams

 

In an exclusive interview, retired General Ishola Williams, a former commandant of Army Signals and Chief of Defence Training and Planning, has called for the disbandment of Nigeria’s National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and Department of State Services (DSS). He criticized their inability to track and dismantle the financial and logistical networks of terrorist organizations and bandits plaguing the country.

 

General Williams stated that despite years of escalating violence, security agencies have failed to address the root causes and financiers of the insurgencies. He noted, “If the NIA, DSS, and Defence Intelligence Agency cannot find where the terrorists are getting money from, the government should close them. Is Boko Haram getting money from heaven?”

 

General Williams expressed concern over the emboldened actions of bandit kingpins like Bello Turji, who openly challenge state authority. He attributed this to collusion and lack of will among some military and security personnel, echoing comments made by Northern governors and clerics like Sheikh Gumi.

 

He further questioned the role of the Nigerian military in combating banditry, emphasizing that such operations fall under the purview of paramilitary forces. “The army was not created to fight terrorism. It is the job of the paramilitary police. The military’s role is to defend the country’s territorial integrity,” he said.

 

The retired general advocated for a complete restructuring of Nigeria’s security framework, including:

1. Decentralization of Policing: State and local policing to address grassroots issues more effectively.

2. Separation of Policing Roles: Establishing a National Paramilitary Force distinct from the Nigeria Police Force, with a focus on handling banditry, kidnapping, and insurgencies.

3. Accountability in Governance: He urged governors, particularly in the North, to engage in political solutions and address socio-economic challenges like the Almajiri system that fuel insecurity.

 

General Williams also stressed the need for political interventions alongside military operations. He cited the South-East as an example, suggesting that negotiations with stakeholders, including the release of Nnamdi Kanu to the region’s governors, could help restore peace.

 

He criticized Northern governors for failing to address fundamental issues. “If they cannot take care of Almajiri, can they take care of terrorists?” he asked, referencing instances where governors have allegedly negotiated with or even honored bandits.

 

 

General Williams emphasized that a combination of intelligence-led operations, political strategies, and systemic reforms is critical to overcoming Nigeria’s security challenges. Without these steps, he warned, the situation might persist, putting more lives at risk.

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