Army Courts Monarchs As Niger Security Gets Tech Upgrade
By SANI BATURE
Civil-Military Cooperation & Technology
THE Nigerian Army is pushing for a hybrid security model in Niger State, combining traditional authority with modern military technology, as Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu seeks broader support from traditional rulers to enhance the credibility and effectiveness of ongoing security operations.
During his palace visit to the Etsu Nupe in Bida, Shaibu disclosed that the Army was conducting a direct field audit of troop deployments across the state, focusing on improving operational coverage and strengthening intelligence pipelines in communities facing banditry, kidnapping, and violent crime pressures.
He said the Army would expand troop numbers, surveillance capacity, and combat enablers, particularly in areas where insecurity has persisted despite previous interventions. Emphasising a shift from reactive to proactive security, the COAS confirmed that new investments in surveillance drones, digital reconnaissance, and ground monitoring systems would be prioritised to close capability gaps and reduce criminal mobility across the state.
Shaibu highlighted that traditional rulers are uniquely positioned to support human intelligence gathering, community trust-building, and conflict mediation, especially in volatile areas where military operations require local legitimacy and cultural cooperation to succeed.
Responding, HRH Yahaya Abubakar assured that the council of traditional rulers would continue to serve as bridges between security agencies and host communities, commending soldiers for demonstrating professionalism and responsible conduct within the kingdom.
The Army reiterated its long-standing position that security cannot be delivered by force alone, but through collaboration between the military, local institutions, and citizens.
