The Nigerian government has been called upon to overhaul its national security architecture by embedding advanced technological solutions in the ongoing war against terrorism and banditry.
Former Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Sani Usman (retd.), made the appeal during a prime-time television interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics. Speaking on the critical role of intelligence in counter-terrorism operations, Usman stressed that the era of relying solely on traditional ground combat is no longer sufficient to neutralize evolving threats. Usman urged the federal government to aggressively integrate technology into its counter-terrorism and banditry operations. Emphasizing the role of intelligence, he noted that advanced tracking systems would deter criminals by making it nearly impossible for them to evade the long arm of the law.
According to the former army spokesman, the leadership of various criminal and terrorist syndicates often display histories of violent extremism that go unchecked by the system over time. He highlighted that integrating technology into national security will finally strip these kingpins of their operational anonymity.
“Technology helps in the sense that even if a criminal has a tendency of committing a crime, the system will eventually catch up with him,” Usman stated. “And somehow, people will have a second thought because you know that you can’t hide; there is a limit to which you can hide because you can’t go far.”
Usman’s remarks come amid a broader push to modernize Nigeria’s defense apparatus. Security experts and government officials alike have consistently advocated for moving beyond conventional warfare.
The military has already begun pursuing advanced solutions, including plans to deploy modern surveillance drones and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support ground troops and track insurgent movements. Additionally, the Defence Headquarters has sought to deepen media and societal partnerships to counter terrorist propaganda and strengthen overall national security.
