Major Banjo Daniel is a retired infantry officer, public/private security trainer, and analyst who is widely knowledgeable in military administration and operations. He was the ADC to the Late Major-General Oladipo Diya. In this exclusive interview with Kehinde Adegoke, Banjo speaks on the security challenges in the country. He also shares his thoughts on Amnesty International, UN, ICRC and most other international organs concerning their coverage and reportage of insurgency in Nigeria. Excerpts
Recently, the military made a public pronouncement that troops are strategizing against insurgency in Borno. Sir, as a security consultant, does the above comment not amount to leaking the military strategy to their enemies?
Firstly, I am not sure you heard correctly because I doubt any military spokesman would use the phrase ‘troops are strategizing.’ Troops don’t strategize; they operate and conduct various operations. Strategies are formulated at the higher echelons, and other commanders develop plans at that level and down the line. However, if the statement was made from the CDS table, it should be seen in the context that the Armed Forces of Nigeria is seeking and planning a better approach in the fight against insurgency. Additionally, I noticed that the writer coined the word restrategising from the news, but none of the commanders said so. The troops had redeployed and probably reevaluated their tactics, positioning themselves appropriately for activities in defence, harbour, and at bases, as they should have been.
Is such a pronouncement allowed in the military? If no, What’s the sanction?
I do not see anything wrong with the pronouncement. It is not only allowable in Nigeria or the African region but globally made by commanders when necessary. It, therefore, requires no punishment. From the viewpoint of a retired infantry officer like me, the statement does not amount to leaking any information; rather, it is a strategy for the enemy. It was probably meant to inform the public of the military’s intent to forge ahead and improve its operational capacity to deal more decisively with the enemies. No administrative and operational data has been divulged. The statement, therefore, does not constitute any offence or breach of law/trust. It can be inferred to be a non-kinetic tool or an electronic form of propaganda to place the enemy in a wandering state of what the strategy could be.
It appears terrorists, particularly Book Haram, are usually given unmerited coverage by the media. How do you react to this, Sir?
I should be asking you why since you’re a major player in the field. Seriously, I am of the opinion that you guys should rethink and develop a worthy system to support the military efforts while downplaying the activities of terrorists. I am aware of the need to honestly inform the public of the prevailing situation, but some instances where the enemies would be uplifted at the cost of the troops’ morale may be subtly presented if it has to be.
What’s your position on Amnesty International’s coverage of the Nigerian military against the insurgents?
Amnesty International, the UN, the ICRC, and most other international organs are not my favourites regarding issues concerning the African region. In fact, I view them more as projecting the goals of criminals than supporting the people.
There have been instances when they’ve been fingered as supplying training and logistics to the enemies. The instructions are so funded that their members live luxuriously. I am in absolute support of President Trump’s policy on cutting US contributions to them.
Do you think Nigeria’s Armed Forces have the numerical strength and sufficient funds to match arrays of terrorists and insurgents as it stands today?
From my lens as a public/private security trainer and analyst, widely knowledgeable in military administration and operations, I do not doubt AFN’s capacity to surpass whatever the enemies are wielding presently and shortly. That notwithstanding, no military is sufficiently equipped, especially with the development and evolution of weapons of war. From my experience, the AFN still lacks funds to establish and equip central units that will stand out in the fight against various forms of criminalities. In summary, Nigeria has a standing force that requires the government’s support in performing its constituted role.
