Gen. Christopher Musa, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), says the military has increased the use of hard and soft power in counter-insurgency operations to contain emerging and changing adversaries.
Musa stated this while delivering a lecture titled “Non-Kinetic Operations and the Nigerian Armed Forces” at the start of a national security course on “Psychological Operations and Strategic Communication (PSYOPS)” on Monday in Abuja.
The Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) organised the course under the theme ‘Winning Hearts and Minds for National Cohesion and Development’.
The CDS, represented by Rear Adm. Daupreye Matthew, Director of Training, Defence Headquarters, stated that the use of non-kinetic efforts under Operation Safe Corridor resulted in the surrender of over 2,000 Boko Haran members Between 2016 and 2017.
He stated that 67% of those who surrendered were from the Abubakar Shekau faction of the insurgents.
Musa also stated that 1,543 repentant terrorists graduated from Mallam Sidi Camp in Gombe State and 1,935 were released from Bulumkutu Camp in Borno between 2016 and 2022.
According to him, 51,828 terrorists and their family members surrendered between July 2021 and May 4, 2022, with 13,360 fighters among them.
He added that 106,000 terrorists and their families had already surrendered in the North East.
The defence chief, on the other hand, called for an assessment and content analysis of security policies, legal frameworks, and operational guidelines.
He also called for an increase in government support, including the development and implementation of Vetting systems, capacity building for government service providers, and direct assistance to transitional facilities that work with low-risk individuals.
He also advocated for individual case management and referral services, as well as community-based peacekeeping, reconciliation, and reintegration.
Earlier, Maj.-Gen. Emmanuel Undiandeye, Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI), stated that the 5-day programme aimed to improve security experts’ understanding of the dynamics of psychological operations and strategic communications.
Undiandeye described psychological operations and strategic communication as essential components of modern warfare, but they have been largely overlooked by communication science despite their importance.
According to him, it is now used not only to manipulate an enemy’s willingness to fight, but also to sway popular opinion.
He stated that the application of strategic communication influences Operations and non-kinetic tools to win hearts and minds while improving national security and cohesion.
“The significance of PSYOPS as a tool of statecraft, governance, and national security cannot be overstated.
“The Agency is more intentional about the benefits of using PSYOPS instruments, such as soft power, to achieve national security objectives.
“I am fully aware that the distinguished participants in this course were drawn from the various Federal and State MDAs, including the Armed Forces, Police, other sister intelligence and security agencies, and the media,” he stated.
The CDI stated that the intent of the course was to reconnect with communities and enlighten them on the importance of lawful behavior as opposed to activities of criminals, insurgents, and other deviants.
