By James Sunday (Rtd), FCAI, MNIIA
As a Security Analyst and a veteran in border security, the serial attacks on troops and the growing activities of criminal elements, from Boko Haram and ISWAP in the North East, especially across Adamawa, Borno, Taraba, and Yobe States where terrorists operate and hibernate in sleeper cells, to kidnappings by terrorists and bandits in the North West, South West, South East, and the North Central, particularly in Benue, Nasarawa, and Plateau States where gun running and incessant attacks are prevalent, have become alarming.
In the face of this “war-like” situation, it is necessary to advise the government on the urgent need for a fully functional and upgraded War Room that meets global standards. This should be a facility the President can visit periodically to assess the state of military operations, understand the modus operandi currently adopted or required, and receive real-time briefings between field commanders and the headquarters.
Such a center would allow the Commander-in-Chief to monitor the movement of terrorists, insurgents, and bandits in real time, receive first-hand information on operations, and take timely strategic decisions without the bottlenecks associated with long chains of command. This will significantly reduce delays in issuing directives needed for immediate tactical and operational actions on the battlefield.
Nigeria cannot afford to allow external actors to dictate or direct its security approach. A high-level strategic War Room, designed not only for the Armed Forces but as a central briefing and monitoring hub, would enable coordinated planning, real-time tracking of troop movements, and prompt response to major incidents. The Commander-in-Chief should be able to receive direct, unfiltered updates and visuals from all operational zones.
This War Room could also serve as a virtual crisis-response center for coordinating national reactions to technical failures or natural disasters.
Typically, military war rooms are located at the Defence Headquarters or other command hubs for operational planning. However, establishing a miniature, fully equipped version within the Presidential Villa would ensure that the President is consistently briefed and able to issue immediate directives.
Nigeria is in a real war with Boko Haram and ISWAP. Although asymmetric, the conflict has now taken on a full-scale war dimension with significant casualties among troops. The nation must therefore brace up and confront these dissidents with a war-level strategy, deploying all necessary assets, on land, in the air, and across waterways such as Lake Chad. Blocking enemy routes, cutting off movement corridors, and demobilizing fighters through intensified air support, land operations, and naval patrols is essential.
It is evident that terrorists are increasingly using communities around operational zones as cover and hiding places. They mingle with residents and use them as human shields, making it difficult for the Air Force to strike even with credible intelligence, as the fighters often hide before aerial attacks can be executed.
To counter this, military operations must advance to increased drone surveillance and the strategic recruitment of locals as informants. These informants should work closely with embedded intelligence officers who understand the terrain, culture, and language. Careful screening of indigenes around war zones is essential to identify trustworthy recruits. These individuals should be tracked with monitoring devices to ensure accountability, verify movement patterns, and track task execution.
The War Room must ultimately serve as the central briefing and analysis hub for all Service Chiefs, consolidating reports from theatres and operational fields under the direct executive supervision of the Commander-in-Chief. This will ensure quicker responses, clearer coordination, and a more direct line of command.