Forensic analysis and DNA emplacement in every explosive that comes into Nigeria for the mining sector should be something that the security agencies must begin to look into, as a means of ending the insurgency in the northeast, a strategic security consultant said on Friday.
Mr Max Gbanite gave the advice while giving his opinion on how Nigeria’s security agencies could tackle the incessant bombings in some northern states.
He explained that the emplacement would enable security agencies identify such dynamite when used in any operation.
“The colour of that dynamite will enable the Department of State Security (DSS) identify the dynamite and the importer and it would enable them also trace how it got into the hands of the terrorists.
“Anything short of that is uncivilised,” he stressed.
The security consultant pointed out that the ingredients for making bombs could be obtained easily, explaining that the successes recorded were because the DSS had been able to trace the importer of the cable used for the timers.
Pattern Of Funding
He said that huge fund was required for adequate forensic equipment and that the one billion dollars loan that President Goodluck Jonathan had requested for would not be enough to put all necessary equipment in place.
“The president should be given the support needed,” he said, suggesting, however, that the funds, though needed, should not be borrowed.
“We are going to borrow 1 billion dollars. Why borrow? We need the money and what I thought that the National Assembly that has gone on recess without approving the request in a time of emergency should have done is to tell the president to cut-off about five billion dollars from the almost 43 billion dollars in the Excess Crude Account and bring it in to fund the re-kitting of the military.
“The government can also dedicate a certain number of barrels of crude per day to get the equipment and not put the burden of a loan on Nigerians,” he said.
The military had called for more funds to enable it meet the challenges of insecurity that the counter-terrorism operations in the northeast.
There have been delays in the release of funds in to the military, a development Mr Gbanite condemned.
“The pattern of funding is also affecting the effectiveness of security personnel.
“The last tranche of the first quarter security funding was just released by the Minister of Finance. You don’t fight terrorism that way.
“They must help the President and Nigerians to win the war. When you are paying the last tranche, you edit it so terribly that the security agencies could not do much with it. That is not how to fight terror,” he cautioned.
According to him, another issue affecting the fight against insurgency was the fact that the CCTVs installed in Abuja and other cities around Nigeria were not working.
“The CCTV does not tell you about a suicide bomber when he is moving. All it tells you is that there is a particular vehicle from a particular area is approaching certain area and makes that vehicle very suspicious. Then you can monitor the activities of that particular vehicle.
“But those that are charged with the responsibility have failed Nigerians and now the president is going to take the credit or the blame because those he has put in place has failed him,” he said, insisting that there is a need for the government to look into the issue.
Several promises have been made that the insurgency in Nigeria’s northeast and some other states in the north would end soon, but Mr Gbanite stressed the need for a combination of psychological cooperation to deter new recruits from joining Boko Haram
He further said that there must also be an establishment of economic infrastructure in the area to make the people feel they have an opportunity to work and make a living than to be an insurgent.
