Analyst reveals what can stop Boko Haram and militants

The Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) is the latest militant group to emerge in Nigeria: they are attacking oil installations in a campaign which threatens the nation’s economy.

NDA presents another fresh security challenge to the government which has been grappling with Islamist insurgency in the north-east of the country.

In this regard the federal government is experiencing challenges in tackling the militants and the problems they impose in the society.

Mrs. Tanwa Ashiru, a United States-trained intelligence and counter-improvised explosive device analyst, has said that best way for the federal government to deal with this situation is to bring genuine development to the Niger Delta region.

In this interview with Naij.com, Mrs. Ashiru encouraged President Muhammadu Buhari to dialogue with the Niger Delta Avengers as a way to bring peace.

READ ALSO: Niger Delta Avengers: Bayelsa governor cautions JTF

Read excepts from the interview below:

Could you please introduce yourself?

My name is Tanwa Ashiru, I am the CEO and founder Bulwark Intelligence. We are an information services company. What we do is we look at a lot of trends on crime and security, threat assessment, and intelligence analysis.

During the programme you talked about the role of mother in fighting crime, can you expatiate on that?   

I believe women are still being underutilised in the security industry. What people don’t realise is that women can be a valuable source of information. If you think about it women like to talk with each other. If we can have more women open up and are able to tell us what is going on within their communities they can reveal a lot of information as police always talk about getting intelligence. Women are a vital source of information which can really help in the fight against insecurity in the country.

With the rise of new groups in the Niger Delta region, what can mothers do in this rate?

We have been looking at the situation that has been going on in the Niger Delta region and more importantly we have been wondering where the voices of the women, what are their grievances. We are hearing all the men and youths complain but we haven’t heard the grievances of the women in the area.

What are the women in the Niger Delta region saying, how are they feeling about the situation? I feel the government should communicate and interact more with the women to figure out what it is we can do to help them in raising the next generation of Nigerians.

I think women are in one of the best positions to be able turn the tide of insecurity around in the country by been able to raise the children upright. Mothers can better communicate to their children the alternatives to crime

As an intelligence analyst, how can the federal government handle the on-going crisis in the Niger Delta region?

So far they have opted to dialogue and that is a very good way to go about it, we definitely don’t want violence. In fact when it comes to violence the militants have the upper hand, they know the terrain better than any soldier you would bring from other parts of Nigeria. The federal government is going to experience a lot of challenges with regards to dialogue because more and more groups are emerging and saying they are fighting for the marginalization of the Niger Delta. The groups would say if they don’t get a piece of whatever pie they think the government is about to share, they won’t be happy and they may start blowing attack oil infrastructure.

For instance, the federal government may be able to negotiate with the Niger Delta Avengers and appease them, but the next thing you know, another group called the red scorpions will emerge and say what about us? we are also being marginalised!

I feel the best way for the government to deal with this situation is to bring genuine development to the region. Doing so may enable them receiving the backing of the local populace, who may become eager to partner with the government in routing out militants that are destroying their environment.

READ ALSO: Stop playing with Nigeria’s future – Niger Delta group to Buhari

Asides from dialogue what other techniques can the federal government employ to battle Boko Haram insurgents and militants?

Intelligence is very key. I think the federal government should really focus on getting the intelligence agencies strengthened and not just in the sense of arresting people and interrogating them.  But they need to be able to interact with the locals, to find a way to infiltrate militant groups. They should intercept their communications channels and get solid intelligence that can help disrupt their supply routes.

The fight against militancy, insurgency and insecurity must be intelligence led. Meaning Intel personnel need to be able to collect good information to tell the security forces on ground where to go next.

Mrs. Tanwa Ashiru is a United States Air Force veteran and founder of Bulwark Intelligence. She has over 13 years’ experience in Intelligence Analysis, working in the Department of Defence (DoD), and the U.S National Security Agency (NSA).

Tanwa holds a post-graduate degree in Intelligence Studies from the School of Security and Global Studies at American Military University (AMU).

She served 180 days in Afghanistan and been involved in counter insurgency and counter-terrorism operations in support of multinational forces in South-East Asia, Middle East and Africa.

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