Desk: Defence & Security
Date: Sunday, 21 June 2026
Time: 17:30 WAT
Location: Abuja, Nigeria
Author: Nokai Origin
The Chairman of the Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC) and former Director of Defence Information, while speaking on TVC360, examined the growing challenges of insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and violent criminal networks, stressing that the complexity of modern threats requires a broader national response beyond conventional force.
His assessment comes amid continuing debates over state policing, forest guards, community-based security structures and the ability of existing institutions to respond to evolving threats.
Nigeria’s security environment has increasingly moved beyond traditional battlefield engagements.
Olukolade noted that while military and security agencies remain central to national defence, the scale and spread of insecurity make it impossible for security forces alone to protect every community across the country.
He argued that the nature of contemporary threats demands a whole-of-society approach where communities, government institutions and security agencies operate within a coordinated framework.
The challenge, according to the retired general, is not only about increasing manpower but improving how intelligence, resources and local knowledge are integrated into national security planning.
The Community Question In National Defence
The role of communities in security operations has become one of the most debated issues in Nigeria’s response to insecurity.
Olukolade acknowledged arguments that communities should have a stronger role in defending themselves, noting that local knowledge and early warning capabilities remain valuable assets in confronting criminal networks.
However, he cautioned that such approaches require careful planning because of the existing proliferation of arms and the risks associated with poorly regulated security arrangements.
His position was that community-based approaches should complement, rather than replace, established security institutions.
The former defence spokesperson maintained that initiatives such as forest guards and state-level security structures should first be strengthened and properly assessed before introducing additional measures.
Intelligence Coordination As The Missing Link
One of the central concerns raised by Olukolade was the need for stronger coordination among security agencies.
He identified intelligence sharing, technological capability and inter-agency collaboration as critical areas requiring improvement.
According to him, many security failures are not necessarily because agencies lack capacity, but because information and operational efforts are sometimes not effectively integrated.
A coordinated intelligence system, he argued, would allow security institutions to anticipate threats rather than constantly respond after attacks occur.
The Technology And Funding Challenge
The security expert also highlighted the importance of resources in sustaining counterterrorism operations.
Beyond personnel deployment, he stressed that modern security operations require appropriate technology, logistics and funding that reaches operational levels.
He argued that troops and agencies operating in difficult environments require practical support to sustain long-term operations.
The effectiveness of any security strategy, he noted, depends on the connection between policy decisions and realities on the ground.
Negotiation, Force And The Terrorism Dilemma
The discussion also examined whether negotiation remains an option in dealing with terrorist groups.
Olukolade rejected the idea of normalising negotiations with terrorists, arguing that repeated concessions could create a cycle that encourages further criminal demands.
He maintained that while government must consider all strategic options during security crises, terrorism cannot be allowed to become a pathway for political bargaining.
For him, the long-term objective remains the restoration of state authority and public confidence.
A New Security Architecture For A Changing Threat Environment
The broader lesson from Olukolade’s assessment is that Nigeria’s security challenge is no longer only a question of combat capability.
The emerging threat landscape requires a redesigned security architecture where intelligence, technology, community awareness and institutional cooperation work together.
The future of counterterrorism will depend on whether Nigeria can move from a largely reactive security posture toward a system capable of prevention, early detection and coordinated response.
The strategic signal is that defeating terrorism requires not only stronger forces, but a stronger security ecosystem.
The CCC And The Crisis Communication Doctrine
The conversation around Nigeria’s security challenges extends beyond battlefield operations into the information environment, a space where the Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC) has built its identity.
Established in 2015, the Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC) emerged as a non-governmental organisation focused on strengthening crisis information management, strategic communication and capacity-building support for Nigeria’s military, security, intelligence and emergency response institutions.
The organisation was founded on the understanding that modern security challenges are not determined only by weapons, manpower or territory, but also by the ability of institutions to communicate effectively, manage public confidence and respond to competing narratives during periods of crisis.
Through research, training, policy engagement and professional development, CCC has worked around the idea that communication is a critical component of national security resilience.
Its work reflects a broader shift in security thinking where public trust, information credibility and coordinated messaging are increasingly treated as operational requirements rather than secondary activities.
The General Behind The Doctrine
At the centre of this approach is retired Major General Chris Olukolade, a former Director of Defence Information of the Nigerian Armed Forces and Chairman of the Centre for Crisis Communication.
With decades of military experience spanning command, strategic communication and defence information management, Olukolade has remained a strong voice on the relationship between security operations, public communication and national stability.
His military career placed him at the intersection of operational realities and public information demands, particularly during periods when Nigeria’s security environment was shaped by terrorism, insurgency and complex internal threats.
His post-service work through CCC has focused on strengthening the bridge between security institutions, the media and citizens, arguing that effective security responses require not only action on the ground but also clarity, trust and public understanding.
In his assessment of Nigeria’s counterterrorism challenges, Olukolade consistently returns to a central argument: security cannot be sustained by security agencies alone. It requires intelligence cooperation, community participation, institutional coordination and a communication framework capable of connecting national strategy with public confidence.
This perspective shaped his analysis of community defence, state policing, intelligence collaboration and the evolving architecture required to confront insecurity.
🏷️ Tags: Nigeria, Counterterrorism, Defence & Security, Strategic Security, Intelligence Coordination, Community Defence, Banditry, Insurgency, Security Architecture, Zig Diaries Feature
#Nigeria #Counterterrorism #DefenceAndSecurity #SecurityArchitecture #Intelligence #CommunitySecurity #ZigDiariesFeature
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