IBB Asks FG To Use Psychological Approach Against Insurgency

Former Military President of Nigeria, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd), has advised the Federal Government to employ psychological and unconventional methods in fighting the Boko Haram insurgency in the North East.

General Babangida gave the recommendation during an exclusive interview with Ladi Akeredolu-Ale on Roadmap 2019, a Channels Television programme.

While the government increases efforts to ensure the safety of Nigerians at all times, the former military president noted that it would be a mistake to use regular war tactics against the insurgents.

“What we tend to forget is that the insurgents have also got tacticians or people who think for them, and once they do that, then you have a problem.

“You have to find a way of countering that information they dish out,” he said, adding that there is no way other than good equipment, training, psychological operations to win the war.

Babangida, who described the insurgency as a double-edged sword, stressed the need for government to understand the concept of how the insurgents operate in such way.

He said the government must ensure that necessary measures are put in place to keep important places well protected, especially where the people must be secured.

Explaining how the psychological operation works, the former military president advised the government to assure the people that it is aware of their security concerns and ask them to go about their normal duties without fear.

He added that government should embark on sensitisation campaigns in a bid to “dish out a lot of not so good information about the other people (terrorists) so that the populace will have confidence that no matter what happens, the military is there to protect them.”

Watch on Roadmap 2019 on Monday, April 16, at 9pm for the full interview with General Babangida.