For retired Major General Abdulmalik Bulama Biu, mni, Sarkin Yaki, the Defence Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DECAN) Conference and Awards was more than a gathering of security professionals and journalists. It was an opportunity to revisit lessons from the North-East counter-terrorism campaign, recognise the contribution of professional defence correspondents and consider how experience gained in military service can continue to inform public responsibility.
Desk: Defence & Security
Date: 13 October 2026
Time: 08:41 WAT
Location: 📍Abuja, Nigeria
Author: Nokai Origin
Speaking in an interview in the sideline of the DECAN conference, Bulama Biu drew on his time as General Officer Commanding 7 Division, Nigerian Army, Maiduguri, and Commander of Sector 3 of the Multinational Joint Task Force. He described the event as timely and relevant to Nigeria’s current security challenges, particularly for the dialogue it encourages among the security community, policymakers, technology experts and the media.
The conference was themed “Beyond Kinetic Warfare: Harnessing Technology and Intelligence-Led Operations for Nigeria’s National Security.” It brought together heads of security agencies, security experts, policy researchers and other stakeholders. Former Chief of Army Staff and Nigerian Ambassador to the Republic of Benin, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, CFR, delivered a lecture titled “Beyond Kinetic Warfare: Harnessing Technology and Intelligence-Led Operations.” The address received positive responses from the panel of discussants and the wider audience.
What 7 Division Taught About the Media’s Place in Security Operations
Bulama Biu’s reflections carried the perspective of a commander who served on the counter-terrorism frontlines. During his tenure leading 7 Division in Maiduguri and commanding Sector 3 of the Multinational Joint Task Force, he experienced the role of professional journalists working within the wider counter-terrorism effort in the North-East.
He credited the concept of embedded professional journalism with making a valuable contribution to the campaign and commended journalists whose work brought public attention to the efforts and sacrifices of personnel of the Armed Forces and other security agencies.
His appreciation recognised a relationship that extends beyond reporting individual operations: the interaction between security institutions and the media also shapes public understanding of the challenges confronting those tasked with protecting the country.
For Bulama Biu, the sacrifices of defence correspondents and their professional engagement with military personnel deserve recognition. He used the occasion to acknowledge journalists who, in his assessment, had demonstrated patriotism through their work alongside men and women serving in the security services.
That experience gave his participation in a conference organised around intelligence-led operations and technology a distinct personal context. The discussions were not detached from the operational environment he had known; they connected to his experience of the people, institutions and professional relationships involved in Nigeria’s security effort.
Buratai’s Lecture and the Continuity of a Professional Relationship
Bulama Biu also congratulated Lieutenant General Buratai, whom he described as his former superior and mentor, commending his longstanding contribution to Nigeria. The lecture offered an opportunity to engage with contemporary security thinking and revisit the need to strengthen the country's approach to complex threats.
The conference theme placed intelligence, technology and cooperation at the centre of the discussion, while the gathering itself brought together different professional communities whose work intersects with national security. For Bulama Biu, the value of the engagement included the opportunity to renew relationships and reinforce a shared commitment to securing Nigeria’s future.
His remarks linked appreciation for Buratai’s lecture with a broader desire to apply the insights gained from the conference. Rather than treating the event simply as a ceremonial occasion, he said he would take away lessons and perspectives that could help him do better when new opportunities to serve arise.
Taking Military Experience into a New Political Chapter
Bulama Biu’s reference to his current political pathway introduced another dimension to his reflections. Having served in military command, he indicated that the lessons gathered at the conference would remain relevant as he pursues responsibilities beyond his previous operational roles.
His comments did not present the transition as a departure from the concerns discussed at DECAN. Instead, he spoke of carrying forward the insights gained from professional engagement, dialogue and the experience of others. His emphasis was on learning and the continuing responsibility to contribute to Nigeria’s future, whatever form that responsibility may take.
The conference therefore provided a meeting point between his military experience and his present public-service ambitions. His account of the event placed particular emphasis on the value of listening, exchanging ideas and maintaining connections among people working in different areas of national life.
Bulama Biu thanked DECAN and the organisers for convening the conference and awards, expressing hope for greater collaboration towards a safer and more secure Nigeria. He congratulated the association and concluded with a prayer for the country.
🏷️ Tags: Abdulmalik Bulama Biu, 7 Division Nigerian Army, Tukur Buratai, DECAN Conference, Defence Journalism, Zig Diaries Originals
#ZigOriginals #ZigDiariesDefence #DECAN #NigerianArmy #DefenceJournalism #NationalSecurity
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