FIC Report (Abia State) – Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti has called on the Nigerian Army to intensify its focus on intelligence gathering as a key strategy to combating insecurity across the country.
Governor Otti gave the charge while receiving a delegation from Course 47 of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji. The delegation was led by the Deputy Commandant and Director of Studies, Rear Admiral Aniefok Uko.
The governor emphasized the critical role intelligence plays in preventing criminal activities before they occur, stating that proactive intelligence gathering is foundational to effective security management.
“A lot of times, if you pay attention to intelligence, you will be able to nip in the bud majority of the cases before they happen,” Governor Otti stated. “We have always maintained that security begins with intelligence. Thorough and well-structured intelligence would always predict and sometimes prepare the forces in advance.”
Governor Otti expressed satisfaction with the military’s professionalism, particularly in Abia State, where he noted their disciplined collaboration with the state government in tackling crime and ensuring peace.
He also praised the Armed Forces Command and Staff College for training foreign students, describing it as a testament to the credibility and standards of Nigeria’s military institutions. The governor congratulated the visiting officers and thanked the college’s leadership for selecting Abia State for the environmental study tour.
Earlier in his remarks, Rear Admiral Aniefok Uko explained that the visit was part of a curriculum component known as the “Environmental Study Tour,” focused on the theme “Harnessing Grassroots Intelligence for Enhanced Internal Security.”
He said the study tour allows students to explore real-world scenarios and evaluate how grassroots intelligence structures can aid both government and security agencies.
“The students are here in Abia State to examine the existing structures which can be galvanized towards assisting government and security agencies with veritable intelligence. If there are practices here that we can adopt as best practices, we will take them back to our various commands across the country,” Rear Admiral Uko said.
He thanked Governor Otti for graciously hosting Course 47 and commended the state for its hospitality and logistical support.
Signed
Abiakam Gloria Ify
HOC, FIC Umuahia,Abia State.
20th May 2025.
