The chief of defence staff (CDS), Christopher Musa, has charged strategic commanders across the security forces to think out of the box and act collaboratively in the ongoing counter-terrorism efforts.

Mr Musa gave the charge at the opening of the Strategic Commanders Course organised by the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) and UK High Commission on Monday in Abuja.

He said strategic-level leaders from the armed forces and security agencies, as well as ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), were at the forefront of the nation’s efforts in responding to crises.

The defence chief added that the course would broaden their perspectives and sharpen their competencies in responding effectively to crises.

“Remember that addressing our security challenges requires a whole-of-society approach and is not limited to the security agencies alone.

“You must, therefore, think out of the box and act collaboratively. Equally, you will need to balance competing priorities, manage complexities, and make tough decisions under intense pressure.

“Please note that the knowledge gained would contribute significantly to lasting peace in the nation, the African sub-region, and the world at large,’’ he said.

The national coordinator of NCTC, Maj.-Gen. Adamu Laka emphasised the need to include non-state actors in counter-terrorism efforts since potential targets and tactics used by terrorists were evolving and highly unpredictable.

Mr Laka said there was a need for stakeholder engagement and for them to be trained and proactive in the handling of the ever-evolving tactics of the terrorist groups.

He said that managing crises provoked by terrorists involves a blend of anticipation, preparation, organisation, and application.

Mr Laka said the centre had continued leveraging the cordial bilateral and multilateral relations between Nigeria and the UK government for sustainable partnerships to improve security.

“The elements of this kind of crisis management are flexibility and the ability to adapt to fast-changing situations.

“Law enforcement agencies need to learn as much as possible about contemporary terrorism. Our experience in counter-terrorism over the years has shown that kinetic approaches cannot end terrorism alone.

“Therefore, we place significant emphasis on non-kinetic approaches to counter-terrorism, focusing on addressing the root causes of terrorism and violent extremism,’’ he said.

The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, represented by the Defence Adviser, Brig. Tom Harper said that the high commission had 2024 signed a defence partnership with Nigeria; the training package was designed to improve multi-agency command and control at the strategic, operational, and tactical levels.

He noted that the participants would be taught the Joint Emergency Services Interoperability Programme (JECIP) principles currently being used in the UK and constantly refined following terrorist incidents they had experienced.

(NAN)