Former Director Media Operations Defence Headquarters, Major General John Enenche asserted that deployment of a small contingent of United States military personnel to Nigeria could mark a critical turning point in the country’s prolonged fight against terrorism, particularly by strengthening intelligence gathering and operational effectiveness.
In an interview with ARISE NEWS on Saturday, Enenche Said the development represents an unprecedented moment in Nigeria–US security relations. He explains that while both countries have collaborated on military training and strategic exchanges in the past, this is the first time American troops are being deployed on Nigerian soil to support internal security operations.
“This is the first time that I can say in practical terms we have American troops on ground. This is the first time. There has never been a time, to the best of my military knowledge and experience, throughout my active service of about 35 years, none.”
According to him, the core of the collaboration centers on intelligence gathering, analysis, and sharing. “From the best of my knowledge, what I gathered is we are discussing about intelligence gathering and then providing us with necessary intelligence so that we on the ground can use it appropriately and decisively.”
“And I think that is good because from the bombing of some of the locations around, again, the Lakurawas, around Sukutu area, you can see that we all saw that, yes, they hit the target. From me, I am rest assured that they hit the target and then the objective was achieved.”
He emphasised that the United States is expected to provide high-level intelligence support that Nigerian forces can deploy appropriately and decisively in ongoing operations. “From the best of my knowledge, what I gathered is we are discussing about intelligence gathering and then providing us with necessary intelligence so that we on the ground can use it appropriately and decisively.”
“From me, I am rest assured that they hit the target and then the objective was achieved.”
“And it went a long way in achieving the objective. Why? Because we realised that the group there, we had dissipated.”
“And that is the impact we are seeing in most parts of the country now, particularly the routes from that area through the north central to some places like Benue.”
Addressing concerns that insecurity has worsened since increased foreign involvement, Enenche explained the apparent escalation of attacks. “Of course, something appears like that because it is a network and these are people that work together. When you affect one, you affect the other. And it’s like busting an anthill.”The people in Sokoto area who have been decimated, the ones in the northeast will react, the ones in north central will react, that is what you are seeing, and there are people that have zeroed their mind, they have made up their mind that they are ready to die for their wicked cause.”
He noted that armed groups in the northeast, northwest, and North Central zones maintain operational linkages. ““Let me give you an instance. We have a small operation in my area now, in Benue State, Rokam side, where we also have been engaged in this for these people. And when some of them were captured, one confessed that they have linkages with the ones in Plateau State. They have linkages, and they asked him, he was arrested, he was captured, and he said, we have been looking for you, where were you for this last couple of weeks or months that he went to fight in Plateau State to join his people there. What I’m saying here is that they have a network known to ordinary Nigerians, ordinary people, and it is a very, very bad thing that we need to face and tackle, you know, squarely.”
Enenche also warns that Nigeria’s security challenge has evolved beyond well-known groups such as Boko Haram or ISWAP. “I want to even let us know that some don’t even have names now, they are sleeper cells. All they believe and they are doing, they are sleeper cells that operate with the same focus, the same ideology.”
“Secondly, it has become a merchandise. It has become something that, you know, money-making venture for them. So that is why you have them. They don’t have names now, that’s what I can tell Nigerians.”
“They don’t have names now, that’s what I can tell Nigerians. Otherwise, if you come to Maghrebi or Rokam, they have a group, the ones we captured on the 19th of this month. They said they have been intermarrying with our people. They have been intermarrying with our people in the village. The same thing, even if you talk about the southeast, talk about the Kwara area, the southwest, it has gone beyond now isolating them, localising them that this is group one, group two, they are here and there. So that is what I want to bring to the knowledge of Nigerians.”
According to Enenche, this reality makes it impossible to localise or isolate the threat to specific regions or group labels. “Even if you talk about the southeast, talk about the Kwara area, the southwest, it has gone beyond now isolating them, localising them that this is group one, group two, they are here and there. So that is what I want to bring to the knowledge of Nigerians.”
While welcoming foreign assistance, Enenche stresses that Nigeria must not rely solely on international partners. “But that does not mean that we should not have our own indigenous initiative to support, to package it up and that is what some of us are now soliciting to ensure that as this effort, this partnership is on, we also come with our own indigenous security arrangement package to ensure that we have a total good success in the next couple of years.”
He called for the development of robust indigenous security initiatives, including comprehensive geospatial surveillance and coordinated intelligence frameworks. “But that does not mean that we should not have our own indigenous initiative to support, to package it up and that is what some of us are now soliciting to ensure that as this effort, this partnership is on, we also come with our own indigenous security arrangement package to ensure that we have a total good success in the next couple of years.”
That is why we all must work assiduously. Whatever you have to bring to the table by way of information, bring it. Is it a strategy? Is it a package? Bring it to the table. Otherwise, this will become like a viral monster. Already it’s a monster, it becomes a virus that will be difficult to continue living for our children. Otherwise, this will become like a viral monster. Already it’s a monster, it becomes a virus that will be difficult to continue living for our children.”
Enenche concluded that the US military partnership offers Nigeria a significant opportunity. “But that does not mean that we should not have our own indigenous initiative to support, to package it up and that is what some of us are now soliciting to ensure that as this effort, this partnership is on, we also come with our own indigenous security arrangement package to ensure that we have a total good success in the next couple of years.”
Erizia Rubyjeana
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