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Former presidential aide, Doyin Okupe, has advised the National Security Adviser, Maj-Gen. Babagana Monguno (retd.), to make use of satellite imaging to cover areas affected by banditry, kidnapping and insurgency.

He gave the advice in an article titled Ending Banditry, Kidnapping and Insurgency In Nigeria. Part II.

This was issued after the NSA, at a press briefing, yesterday said the Federal Government will not hesitate to use force to curb the menace of insurgents.

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Okupe, in his article, commended the NSA for his commitment to the fight against insurgency in the country.

He called for the provision of rapid response capabilities and adequate funding as measures for the fight against insecurity.

The former presidential aide said, I want to publicly commend the NSA, Rtd General Monguno for his brilliant and highly hope-inspiring press briefing of yesterday 11th March 2021.

For once and for the first time, someone, though unelected, took charge and gave the Nigerian citizens some measure of hope.

Ordinarily, as a critic of the administration, I should say all he did was 2 make promises and that we have had too many unfulfilled promises both from this administration and those before it. But at the prevailing level of pervasive insecurity in the country, Promises may just suffice.

He said the security challenges will be dealt with in few weeks. We have lived with these challenges for 10 years, so even if the government can do it in few months instead of the few weeks promised, it will still be accepted and appreciated.

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Personally, watching the NSA closely yesterday and looking beyond what he was saying, I saw some measure of commitment and veiled anger within him and this makes me believe him. But I may be wrong. However, I will like to suggest the following additional measures to the NSA.

Spend some money on 24 hrs satellite imaging and coverage of areas most affected by these challenges.

Increase ground intelligence and paid local intelligence monitors all over these areas.

Fund Police formations and tactical units in these areas. Increase force deplorability and create standby joint crack security teams in each local government area in the affected states.

In addition to State Police Commissioners working with military authorities, appoint military commanders in each state to jointly coordinate security within each state, with the state police Commissioners.

It takes no less than 1hr for any serious school kidnapping to be executed. It also takes travelling fairly long distances and noticeable mass movements before bandits arrive at their safe havens in the forests.

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Therefore, after serious fortification of rapid response capabilities and adequate funding have been provided, any state where kidnapping is successfully executed, the Commissioner of Police and the military Commanders shall be held responsible.

Read more here:
Banditry: Cover affected areas with satellite imaging, Okupe tells NSA - Punch Newspapers