Former Coordinator of Defence Media Operations, Major General John Enenche (retd.), has warned that Nigeria is grappling with a national security emergency, attributing the worsening insecurity across the country to a lack of proactive measures by government authorities.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television monitored by The News Chronicle, Enenche dismissed suggestions that intelligence failure is solely responsible for the persistent security challenges, arguing that security agencies often receive advance information about impending attacks but fail to act decisively to prevent them.
Drawing from his experience at the Defence Headquarters, the retired general said intelligence reports frequently identify threats before they materialise, raising concerns about the country’s inability to neutralise such threats in advance.
According to him, retired military officers are currently developing a strategic platform aimed at supporting serving military personnel and operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) in strengthening intelligence gathering and response mechanisms.
“We need to upgrade our methods of tracking these criminals through geolocation and other advanced technologies. Our intelligence architecture must evolve beyond its current state if we are to effectively tackle the security challenges confronting the nation,” he said.
Commenting on allegations of internal sabotage within the security services, Enenche acknowledged that such occurrences are not peculiar to Nigeria, describing them as a reality that exists in security institutions worldwide, including the Nigerian military.
The retired officer also argued that frequent changes in military leadership would not provide a lasting solution to the country’s security woes.
“If you change service chiefs every six months, it will not solve the problem. What we need is a comprehensive assessment of what has been done in the past and what needs to be done differently going forward,” he stated.
Enenche further expressed concern over the recent kidnapping of retired Major General Maharazu Tsiga, saying the incident underscores the growing threat posed by criminal elements.
“They are targeting us. That is why I take security very seriously, and I encourage every Nigerian to do the same,” he said.
He also reiterated his support for the establishment of state police as part of broader efforts to address the country’s escalating security challenges.
