Laka calls for inter-agency collaboration to end terrorism

The National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Maj.-Gen. Adamu Laka, on Monday, called for collaboration among security stakeholders in order to end terrorism in the country.

Gen Laka who made the call while speaking at a five-day “Counter Terrorism Theory and Practice Course”, in Abuja pointed out that the call became necessary as” no agency can solely achieve laudable success in the fight against terrorism.

The Course, “Counter Terrorism-Theory And Practice Course is being organized by the National Counter Terrorism Center, NCTC, office of the National Security Adviser.”

He stated since terrorism knows no boundary, “there was the need for security stakeholders to work together, identify their crucial roles and collaborate to record great progress in the country’s counter-terrorism efforts.

Gen Laka stated that mutual collaboration was crucial, as it would allow for the sharing of resources, expertise, and information to effectively prevent and respond to terrorist threats.

According to him, “there is no doubt that terrorism has a profound negative impact on the nation, our fellow citizens as well as international partners. Globally, the carnage unleashed by terrorists has led to devastating loss of lives and properties. Recently, acts by terrorists and other criminal elements to disrupt the Country’s socio-economic activities is of serious concern and must be adequately tackled through continuous collaboration by security stakeholders. Thus, this Course is a welcome development and could not have come at a better time.

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“Noting that no agency can solely achieve laudable success in the fight against terrorism, it once again emphasizes the need for us to work together, identifying our crucial roles and collaborating to record great progress in the Country’s aviation security. It therefore stresses the need for inter-agency collaboration and cross-border relationships to stem this tide because terrorism recognizes no borders.

“In view of this, the National Counter Terrorism Centre, Office of the National Security Adviser in collaboration with the UK Counter Terrorism team seeks to address counter-terrorism measures that could be employed in enhancing the country’s national security through this course.

“This course reaffirms a call to re-awakening collaborative efforts which we all must embrace, as victory by one is victory by all of us and a greater victory for our entire nation, the African continent and the world at large.

He explained that by adopting collaborative strategy, security stakeholders ” can enhance their capacity to prevent and respond to terrorist threats, ultimately ensuring a safer and more secure environment for all citizens.

The NCTC boss pointed out that the course, facilitated by the Nigeria-UK Strategic Defence Partnership, had created the avenue for national development that embodies a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach in addressing terrorism concerns in the count.

In his remarks, the Head of Counter Terrorism Network for West Africa in the British High Commission, Abuja, Lawrence Devlin, said the course would address the fundamental themes in counter-terrorism by taking a broad view of the security challenges in the 21st century.

According to him, “The course seeks to build upon the UK’s commitment to partner with Nigeria to address our shared security challenges,”

Also speaking, the Course Facilitator, Dr. Aaron Edward, said that the intention of the program was to build on the collaborative efforts of the NCTC and share with the participants, which were drawn from the military, Police and paramilitary, Ministries, Agencies and Departments, some of the experiences of the UK’s in battling the challenges of terrorism.

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