Former Chief of Defence Training and Planning, General Ishola Williams (retd.), has stated that soldiers in Nigeria are not properly briefed before they are deployed to the war front to fight against insurgency.
He submitted that the lack of proper education and training on the type of war they are fighting is why the soldiers flee when they are attacked by insurgents such as the Boko Haram terrorist group.
Williams, however, stated that the wars against insurgency and Nigeria’s battle with insecurity can end in six months if security agencies are reorganized, a new intelligence and counterintelligence system is developed, and proper training is given to personnel.
Naijaonpoint reports that the retired General added that purchasing more weapons is not the solution to curbing insecurity in Nigeria.
“All these problems can be solved within six months. Reorganise the security agencies.
“Develop a new technical system, develop a new intelligence and counterintelligence system and train the people properly.
“You must train the soldiers how to fight. If you ask any soldier in the North-East or South-East, what are you fighting for? Has anybody ever explained to them what they are fighting for?
“If they don’t know what they are fighting for, they just take it like an ordinary duty. And if they are tired, they are tired. So there has been cases that soldier run away when Boko Haram attacks,” he stated while speaking during a Channels Television interview on Friday.
Williams decried a situation whereby some communities still support the terrorists and bandits, hence frustrating government’s efforts.
The retired general also emphasised the need for traditional rulers to be fully involved in sensitising the people to the importance of collaborating more closely with security agencies.
On the issue of arms smuggling, he called on Immigration, Customs, and Police operatives to have greater inter-agency synergy.
He stated that some arms still illegally pass through the nation’s borders because of collusion by some personnel.
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