By Mohammad Tijjani

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Lucky Irabor, on Monday identified synergy among security agencies as a critical factor in defeating security threats in the country.

Irabor spoke at Jaji, Kaduna State, when he declared open a three-week “Exercise Haske Biyu’’ for Senior Course 43 at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC).

The theme of the exercise was “A Joint and Multi-Agency Training on Internal Security and Low Intensity Conflict.’’

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the CDS was represented by Director Peace Keeping Operation, Defence Headquarters, Maj.-Gen. Henry Ayamasowei.

Irabor explained that the exercise could not have come at a more auspicious period than now, when the country was faced with myriad of security challenges.

“Thus, the importance of collaboration between the military and other law enforcement agencies in defeating these threats cannot be over-emphasised,’’ he said.

He said its objective was to broaden individual and collective knowledge and understanding of military operations other than war, with emphasis on internal security and counter-insurgency operations.

Irabor said in view of the dynamics of global security environment and current national security realities, intelligence and security agencies and other stakeholders had found themselves deployed regularly on internal security operations.

According to the CDS, such deployments require them to carry out an array of operations which involve kinetic and non-kinetic approaches to counter threats posed by predominantly irregular groups.

He added that the exercise was a platform for cross-fertilisation of ideas.

He said it would allow stakeholders in national security architecture to synergise for the development of sustainable conflict resolution and conflict management mechanisms.

Earlier, the Commandant of the College, AVM Ebenezer Alade, explained that the 2021 edition would focus on the North-West where banditry, cattle rustling and kidnapping had become common place.

Alade said that the participants would be required to provide practical and workable solutions to problems associated with internal security and counter-insurgency.

NAN reports that participants in the training are drawn from the army, navy, air force, police, customs, other paramilitary agencies and the media. (NAN)

==================

Over 300 Students Rescued As Bandits Break Into Another School In Kaduna

Bandits have attacked Government Science Secondary School, Ikara in Kaduna State....

Lami Sadiq

And

Mohammed Ibrahim Yaba, Kaduna

Sun Mar 14 2021

Bandits have attacked Government Science Secondary School, Ikara in Kaduna State.

The armed men invaded the school in the early hours of Sunday but their plot to abduct students was foiled by the military, according to Samuel Aruwan, Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs.

Aruwan confirmed that all 307 students of the school are safe.

“The Kaduna State Government has called this briefing to address you on some recent events with respect to the security situation in the State.

“Between the late hours of Saturday night and the early hours of today, suspected bandits stormed the Government Science Secondary School, Ikara, Ikara Local Government Area, in an attempt to kidnap students. Fortunately, the students utilized the security warning system in place, and were thus able to alert security forces in the area.

“The security forces comprising the troops of the Nigerian Army, Police and some security volunteers moved swiftly to the school and engaged the bandits, forcing them to flee. The attempted kidnap was foiled,” he said.

The incident happened two days after 39 students were abducted from the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation in Afaka, Igabi local government area of the state.

The gunmen were reportedly heading to a secondary school but when they learnt that security had been beefed up at their target location, they invaded the school.

This is the third major feat recorded by security operatives in Kaduna in the last 48 hours.

Daily Trust had reported how soldiers prevented gunmen from abducting students of a Turkish school in Kaduna.

Also, an attempt to abduct some persons at the quarters of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) in Kaduna was foiled.