THE NIGERIAN ARMY IN INTERNAL SECURITY OPERATIONS

Abstract

Since its establishment, the Nigerian Army has been involved in its constitutional secondary role of assisting the civil authorities to quell unrest. This she does by conducting Internal Security Operations. The first of such involvement was in the Tiv riots of 1962/64. Since then, the Nigerian Army has been involved in Internal Security (IS) Operations on eight other occasions. These range from such political crisis as the Western Region post election disturbances of 1964-65 through students unrest like the "Ali Must Go" disturbances of 1978 to the various religious disturbances of which the Maitatsine riots in Kano in 1980 is a classical example Internal crisis manifestation has assumed an alarming dimension and sophistication which is a source of concern to the security operatives in general and the Army in particular. High level planning, organisation, and tactics as well as the use of arms and explosives are now being employed by rioters. These call for a content review of methods, and relevant laws on the part of the Army in order to be more effective in dealing with future internal operations. Secondly, the availability and use of modern information technologies have literarily brought into our homes events happening around the globe via televisions or satellite Transmissions. The implication is that any internal security operations irrespective of locations can be relayed live into our homes. This automatically calls for more cautions on the part of the Military in general and the Army in particular in internal security operations. The problem of Nigeria's security has for long aroused a lot of interest and concern among Nigerians, professionals and intellectuals. This has resulted in several publications. It is however of interest to note that none of the publications available at the Institute's library has addressed the problem adequately particularly as it affects the Nigerian Army and its operations. Although Alhaji Ahmadu Sheidu of SEC 9 wrote an interesting essay on "The Roles of the Police and the Army in Handling Disturbances in Nigeria", he addressed issues raised purely from the Police point of view and his write up on the Army is superficial and limited. It is against this background that this study has attempted to evaluate the roles of the Nigerian Army In internal security operations with the sole aim of being able to cope with the new dimensions being introduced into riots in Nigeria. The study has benefited from the few available literature and the experience of the author as a commander, staff officer and instructor in training institutions. The Study also benefited from the experience of some serving and retired officers both from the Army and Police Force.