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Retired General Ishola Williams, a former Commandant of the Army Signals, has spoken out against Nigeria’s security architecture, citing its ineffectiveness in addressing the growing issues of banditry and terror attacks.

He specifically criticised both military and political leaders for their lack of efficiency and willpower in tackling these challenges.

Williams emphasised that the situation has spiralled out of control, with bandits now operating freely and controlling large areas in the North. He argued that this is no longer just a matter of terrorism, but a more complex issue that requires a comprehensive approach.

Notably, Williams suggested that the military’s role should be focused on protecting the territorial integrity of the country, rather than pursuing bandits, which is the responsibility of the Mobile Police. He also advocated for the separation of National Paramilitary Force from the police service, recommending that it should be an independent entity.

Williams in an interview with Sunday PUNCH pointed out the claims of collusion between security agencies and bandits, as alleged by figures such as Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi and some northern governors.

“Do they have the will to face the bandits and defeat them? For me, if they don’t have the will, it simply means they are useless,” he remarked.

He emphasised that the military’s primary role is to protect the country’s territorial integrity, not to engage in internal counterterrorism operations. He proposed strengthening paramilitary police forces, such as the mobile police, to combat insurgency effectively.

The retired general criticised the reliance on the military to perform roles meant for specialised agencies and called for the restructuring of the Nigeria Police Force.

He said, “What is very important is that the military is doing the job of the mobile police. The mobile police was created separately from the regular police, with a different uniform and training, to carry guns like soldiers and fight bandits, kidnappers, and insurgents. That was why the mobile police was created.

“When the mobile police cannot do the job, the military is expected to support them, not to take over. But what we have seen is that the Nigerian police are confusing the job of policing with that of paramilitary policing, and that is a very big problem for the country.

“Therefore, you must separate paramilitary policing from ordinary policing. Policing should be at the state and local levels, not at the national level. This means you need to divide the Nigeria Police Force into a crime intelligence and criminal investigation agency.

“Also, there should be the National Paramilitary Force, which will now be the mobile police. They will be a separate agency and have a commander-general like the Customs and Immigration. Once they become a separate agency, they will have a clear focus. That means that the Inspector General of Police will be in charge of maintaining standards, training, monitoring, evaluation, and feedback on state policing. So, the existing Nigeria Police Force that you have now will disappear.”

Addressing the political dimensions of insecurity, Williams advocated for political solutions alongside military efforts. He made reference to the South-East crisis involving the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), suggesting that releasing IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu and engaging regional leaders could quell unrest.

“The killings and attacks will stop if a political solution is found,” he asserted, criticising the lack of proactive measures by both state and federal governments.

On the northern security crisis, Williams blamed governors for their inaction, particularly regarding the Almajiri system and the influence of traditional rulers. He cited instances of collaboration between traditional leaders and bandits, such as the turbaning of notorious bandit leader Bello Turji, as evidence of deeper systemic issues.

He said, “They (Governors) are not serious. If they cannot take care of Almajiri, can they take care of the terrorists? If you go to most parts of the North, you will see those children loitering about the whole place.

“The governors couldn’t take care of that. Don’t forget that there was a case of a governor who negotiated with a terrorist leader. Apart from that, Bello Turji was turbaned. Or didn’t you see the picture of him being turbaned with an emir?

“But how many emirs have been caught in the North by the governors for colluding with the terrorists? And how many of them have been taken to court? Yet people are being killed daily across the states. The governors are simply not serious.”

He recalled that Bello Turji (the notorious bandit kingpin) said “one important thing”.

Williams said, “He (Bello Turji) said, ‘The military knows where I am. Come and attack me.’ After that, he said, ‘Okay, since you don’t want to come, I am coming.’ So, where in the world can you see that? All the military could say is, ‘Oh, we will deal with him.’ But nothing has happened up until now. And the man is confident.

“In fact, let us go back to what Sheikh Gumi told everybody. He said the military intelligence and the security agencies know where the bandits are. Even the northern governors have said the security agencies are in collusion with the bandits. So, is anybody serious about bringing the security situation to an end? Are they serious?”

Williams dismissed claims that Boko Haram’s sophistication is too advanced for local forces to handle, arguing that the group’s operations are not insurmountable if intelligence agencies are properly equipped and functional.

He questioned the effectiveness of Nigeria’s intelligence services, calling for accountability regarding the sources of Boko Haram’s funding and supplies.

Reflecting on the broader implications, he called for a complete overhaul of Nigeria’s security architecture and urged the government to adopt a pragmatic, problem-solving approach to ensure the safety of its citizens.