Being the first high ranking police officer to head the National Security Agency, the topmost security intelligence apparatus of the nation, some naysayers claimed Mallam Nuhu Ribadu AIG (rtd) would not perform as the position was exclusively reserved for top military brass in the past. However, since his auspicious appointment over a year ago, an action-oriented Mallam Nuhu Ribadu has proven those doubting Thomases wrong and has even enlisted many to his side with the breathtaking pace of his structural, operational and service wide reforms in the NSA.
Indeed Mallam Ribadu’s approach to tackling insecurity is multi-pronged; he believes that the solution involves military, political and socio-economic initiatives which revolves around youth empowerment and job creation, inter-border cooperation and improved intelligence sharing mechanisms. The adoption of an unorthodox method is really yielding results given that since Mallam Nuhu Ribadu took office, the authorities have secured the release of more than 4,600 hostages, neutralized over 9,000 terrorists, bandits and kidnappers, and arrested more than 7,000 others. Huge quantities of assorted weapons and ammunition have also been recovered. Many of the rescued persons had spent many years in captivity with scant hope of freedom.
The agile NSA’s determined push for improved intelligence gathering, sharing and co-ordination among the security agencies has lead to the elimination of many terrorist leaders in the North West including Abubakar Mainok, Haruna Isiya Boderi, and Kachallah Damina during military actions to secure the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway. In the North-Central region, the frequency of farmer-herder clashes has declined tremendously while the North-East zone which has long been exposed to their reign of terror, is now witnessing relative peace and stability as well as activities geared towards reconstruction and rehabilitation to restore a sense of normalcy in the zone.
The transformative Mallam Nuhu Ribadu’s footprints can also be seen in the Niger Delta region where improved security has translated into an increase in crude oil production by as much as 500,000 barrels per day. In the restive South-East region, the security agencies have given the separatist agitators a run for their money as many of them have either been neutralized, captured or have scampered for safety outside the region.
In furtherance of his reconstruction imperatives more than 40 police stations damaged by criminals in the zone in recent years have been rebuilt and rendered operational once again.During his first year in office, an energetic Mallam Ribadu has ensured the quick rescue and rapid response missions for abducted children and citizens including the release of the Kuriga students, the freeing of students abducted from the Federal University of Gusau, and the gallant rescue of Kogi students all due to the co-ordination of operational intelligence from the office of the National Security Adviser.
As a multidimensional organization with several crucial functions and duties, the ONSA has seen a renewed recalibration of these specialized centers, including the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), the National Cybersecurity Coordination Center (NCCC), and the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) in order to render them more responsive to emerging security scenarios.To checkmate the nefarious activities of economic saboteurs, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu has been actively involved in operations to nail the criminals, most especially Binance, an economic culprit in many jurisdictions. Tracking offenders with links to trans-border terrorism is a familiar turf for Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and he is assisted by his exemplary international connections and esteemed reputation.
The redoubtable NSA has also utilized his vast networks to locate trans-border terrorists and their criminal sponsors. As it has been succinctly stated ‘the most complex orchestra in the world is co-ordinated by a single conductor so that it can produce the most beautiful melody. The task of the National Security Adviser is to play that role of conductor to ensure that key components of the NSA are synchronized, harmonized and effectively co-ordinated so that it becomes a veritable tool for ensuring national security, stability and prosperity’Indeed to encapsulate the sheer length and breadth of the intrepid Mallam Nuhu Ribadu’s outstanding achievements as National Security Adviser is beyond the scope of this piece but it is suffice to surmise that the efficient officer, political titan, anti-graft czar and accomplished intelligence guru has succeeded in greatly demystifing the national security milleau thus bringing lasting peace, security and stability to our beloved nation. To God be the Glory.
OBINNA IFEANYICHUKWU, A SECURITY ANALYST WROTE IN FROM IGBO QUARTERS, BAUCHI STATE.
