Effective communications key component in fight against kidnapping, other Crimes – ONSA

ONSA

National Coordinator, National Counter Terrorism Center (NCTC), Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Rear Admiral Yaminu Musa (rtd) has said, effective communication is a vital component in the fight against kidnapping and other forms of insecurity bedeviling the country.

Rear Admiral Musa stated this today, at the Anti-Kidnap Multi-Agency Fusion Cell Media and Communication Workshop which took place at the ONSA, Abuja.

While addressing a wide range of participants drawn from different security agencies and the media, Musa disclosed that the workshop is the fourth in the series and focuses on “communications and the media” which is a vital and indispensable component in Nigeria’s security architecture.

According to him, “Your contributions today would in no small measure boost the efforts of the National Counter Terrorism Centre, Office of the National Security Adviser in developing the framework for effective multiagency synergy in addressing the menace of kidnapping in Nigeria.

“The focus of the workshop is communications, a vital component in the fight against insecurity. This informed the need to invite spokespersons, public relations officers and strategic communications staff of agencies to this workshop, in recognition of their role in the entire process.

“In this wise, participants would have the opportunity of discussing various issues related to communications with a view to ensuring effective information dissemination and management as it concerns our anti-kidnapping efforts.

“I am therefore confident that this workshop will be pivotal to the actualization of a multi-agency anti-kidnap fusion cell. I will therefore implore everyone to take advantage of this rare opportunity and share ideas and experiences with a view to enhancing their skills and knowledge on anti-kidnapping strategies and reportage.”

The National Coordinator also asserted that the ONSA in collaboration with the Armed Forces, law enforcement, security agencies and all relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), is not relenting in its efforts to address all forms of security challenges in the country.

The attainment of total security of our nation, he said required the collective efforts of all citizens, hence the Federal Government overarching strategy has been hinged on a whole-of-government and a whole-of-society approach. Therefore, with your continued collaboration and support, efforts at improving Nigeria’s national security would be sustained. I sincerely express my gratitude to all security agencies, the MDAs and the media for their support.

“The series of training workshops being organized with the British High Commission is a result of the Security and Defence Partnership Dialogue between Nigeria and UK government held in London February 2022 and a follow-up midterm review in Abuja in September 2022. This led to the decision to built capacity of stakeholders towards creating a Multi-Agency Anti-kidnapping Fusion Cell.”

He thanked the heads of participating MDAs, the British High Commission, UK National Crime Agency, heads of the Media organization and other stakeholders for their efforts to ensure the security of lives and properties in Nigeria.

Rear Admiral Musa also expressed profound gratitude to the British High Commission and the United Kingdom – National Crime Agency (NCA) for their resolute commitment towards improved security by addressing the issue of kidnapping in Nigeria and for extending this hand of fellowship to the National Counter Terrorism Centre, Office of the National Security Adviser towards the successful co-hosting of this very important Workshop.

“I am pleased to inform the previous workshops conducted in the past few months have been very rewarding given the robust interactions and outcomes during the series of workshops. We have no doubt that our deliberations during this workshop would further consolidate the successes recorded so far since the commencement of the series.”

Also speaking at the event, the Programme Manager of the National Crime Agency, United Kingdom, Chris Grimson, explained that the workshop was a fallout of a number of agreements between Nigeria and the UK to create a multi-agency kidnap fusion cell.

According to Grimson, the purpose of the workshop was to identify and explore what was needed to create the fusion cell or whatever it turned out to be, adding that he wants to see this come to fruition

Meanwhile, one of the Facilitators, Rear Admiral Leye Jaiyeola, stated that, the fusion cell workshop was designed to come up with a joint decision model to allow for an effective multi-agency use and conflict resolution.

He also noted that he workshop was meant to set up principles that would provide participants with an agreed framework to support decision-making, and develop appropriate legislation for effective management and resolution of kidnapping issues.

According to him, “Kidnapping has become a major threat in Nigeria, hence the need to develop an agreed national kidnap fusion and coordination mechanism.

“Our focus is to make sure that we maintain a strategic national kidnap operation posture, get all the agencies involved in doing it, so that we will be able to put our feet at the right spot and come up with a set of principles so that the commanders will be able to deliver.

“We have looked at coming up with standard operating procedure, looked at developing the doctrine itself and this session of workshop is the session that involves relating with the public so that they will build trust and confidence in the security.”