CDS Conference: Community relations, unity of efforts as path to enhanced security

Commanders of Joint Task Forces across the country have been given important tasks: foster community relations and ensure unity of efforts in the mission to surmount evolving internal security challenges. These overarching tasks were the defining outcome of the Chief of Defence Staff Joint Task Force Commanders Conference, which was recently hosted by Defence Headquarters in Abuja.

Themed “Enhancing Jointness Across all Theatres of Operations,” the conference identified several key takeaways, including the importance of unity of effort, resourcefulness, and a whole-of-society approach to addressing security challenges. These takeaways underscore the need for a collaborative effort between the military, government, and civil society to address the complex security challenges facing Nigeria. By working together, these stakeholders can pool their resources, expertise, and knowledge to develop effective solutions that address the root causes of insecurity.

Handing the charge to the commanders, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, emphasized that the commanders must continue to engage with communities, traditional and religious leaders, and other stakeholders in order to collaboratively gain valuable insights into their specific security challenges or address their particular grievances. He also reminded them of the indispensability of working in synergy, noting that the strength of the Joint Task Forces lies in their ability to operate as a cohesive and integrated force, leveraging their collective resources and expertise to achieve shared objectives.

In his words, “I would also like to emphasize the importance of building and maintaining strong relationships with the communities we serve. The trust and support of the local population are critical in our efforts to address the security challenges. You must continue to engage with community leaders, religious leaders, and other stakeholders in order to address their grievances collaboratively and decisively. By doing so, we gain valuable insights, foster cooperation, and build resilient communities that would be capable of securing their own futures. On our part as Defence Headquarters, we will continue to invest more in your training and overall welfare of your officers and men. We shall also strive to ensure the timely delivery of the requisite combat enablers and platforms needed to achieve your operational objectives.”

The outcome and recommendations of the conference are crucial. By adopting a whole-of-society approach and prioritising community relations and unity of efforts, the Nigerian Armed Forces will no doubt enhance their effectiveness in addressing the country’s security challenges. But the truth is that the Nigerian military has long recognised the importance of building trust with local communities and has been actively engaging with them through various initiatives. These efforts have included the establishment of military-civilian relationships, the provision of humanitarian assistance, and support for community development projects. However, General Musa’s call to action underscores the need for sustained efforts in this area, recognising that community relationships are a critical component of effective security operations.

Let us interrogate deeper. As a matter of constitutional obligation, the Nigerian military is constantly involved in internal security operations in aid of civil authority, and this has been a recurring engagement given the multiplicity of internal security challenges bedevilling the country. It therefore means that it must also be challenged by how it can effectively manage its relationships and interactions with the civilian population, particularly the communities where it is based or deployed.

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It is also important to note that the military is controlled by the political authority and is often deployed to perform roles that involve the use of force and coercion in order to achieve a set objective, like conflict resolution or restoration of peace and security in society. In the course of doing this, a section of the public might kick against their presence for different reasons, which might include a failure on the part of some personnel, being subject to human imperfections, or being accused of bias or excessive use of force. On the other hand, cases abound where there are obvious provocations of military personnel in operation by the civilian community. Suffice it to say that the source of friction, mutual distrust, and suspicion that occur in the course of this inevitable interaction between the civilians and the military in a particular milieu of operation could be located on either side of the divide.

There is therefore the need for restraint on both sides, military and civilian alike, and most especially on the part of the military, which is known as a disciplined body of officers and men. Moreover, in democracies, legal violence or the power of coercion is not to be used often, as the misuse of military power can alienate citizens from both the government and the military. Both the government and the military need the citizens, especially for support in wartime, internal security operations, or peace support missions. These obvious needs call for positive civil-military relations in the country.

It is in the clear realisation of this imperative that the Nigerian military has mainstreamed civil-military relations in its strategic plans, knowing that the success or otherwise of its operations depends to a large extent on the quality of its relationship with the civilian populace. In fact, rigid and fixed mindsets and perceptions have made it difficult for many civilians and civilian groups to appreciate the noble roles of the military. From the Defence Headquarters to the Services, measures have been taken to give fresh impetus towards the improvement of civil-military relations. To this end, full-fledged departments or directorates have been created for civil-military relations, from Headquarters level down to Division, Brigade, and Battalion levels (for NA – and equivalent formations in NN and NAF), to operationalise the strategic relationship with the civil populace.

The whole essence is to collapse the wall of mutual distrust and build the bridges of understanding, solidarity, and partnership between the people and their military; and more importantly, to win the hearts and minds of the people. The task of obtaining, growing, and sustaining cooperation and support is, however, a difficult one that requires members of the armed forces to proactively respect and be subject to the imperatives of the rule of law, allegiance to civil authority, transparency and accountability of operations, and respect for human rights. In addition, they need the skills of effective communication, negotiation, and conflict management to be able to earn the trust, confidence, and respect of the civil populace. This is basically what the outcome of that conference was alluding to: The commanders must be intentional in building and sustaining good relations with the communities.

Since assuming office as the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa has placed civil-military relations on the front burner. As an accomplished military strategist, he understands the indispensability of a healthy civil-military relationship, especially in times like these when the Nigerian military is conducting multiple internal security operations, mostly through the instrumentality of Joint Task Forces.

Gen Musa believes that civil-military relations demand the highest level of community relations competencies and actions that involve effective communication, respect for human rights, rule of law, negotiation and conflict management skills, responsiveness, and community service (in the form of quick-impact projects and programs), and so on. According to him, “You can win the war, but how do you win the peace if not by winning the hearts and minds of the people?”

It is therefore left for the dutiful commanders and their gallant troops to win both the war and the peace.

Omeje is the Publisher of Security Digest