Naija security agencies dey no dey waste time as dem dey prepare for 2027 general election. Nigerian Air Force and Nigeria Police don deepen dia partnership for intelligence sharing, while Nigerian Army dey tighten discipline for officers and soldiers wey go join election security.
Di Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, don visit Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, for Force Headquarters for Abuja. During di visit, Aneke talk say NAF want to work with police experts to support di ongoing training of Air Police and intelligence personnel. E note say di police get strong intelligence networks for every community and local government across di country.
“We see strong potential in using these local warnings to enable di NAF to respond more quickly and effectively to national security threats,” Aneke tok. E add say by finding better ways to share intelligence, dem fit guide air units to address tret faster, before dem escalate.
Di Chief of Air Staff also talk about partnership as mutual effort. E say NAF dey open to exploring frameworks wey go make police fit use dia Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) assets. Whether dem dey monitor hotspots during 2027 elections or track criminal activity for challenging terrain, NAF aircraft go serve as ‘eye in di sky’ to support police ground troops.
Aneke further suggest make dem establish active exchange programme between dia training institutions. E say police get strong expertise for forensics, crime scene management, and criminal investigations. NAF wan work with police experts to train dia Air Police and intelligence staff. Dem go happy to host police officers for courses at Nigerian Air Force School of Air Intelligence (NAFSAINT).
“Likewise, we hope to find ways for NAF personnel to train again at Police College, Enugu, where dem go learn about forensics and modern investigative methods,” e tok. Dis exchange go help develop better, more skilled officers for both agencies.
For im own remarks, IGP Olatunji Disu reaffirm di commitment of Nigeria Police to deepen partnership with NAF through joint training, capacity building, intelligence-led operations, and sustained operational support. E stress di importance of personnel welfare, effective command and control, and coordinated security planning, especially for major national events and di 2027 general election. Disu also highlight di need to enhance protection of critical national infrastructure, improve logistics and response capabilities, as well as regular reviews of joint operational engagements.
Meanwhile, Nigerian Army don warn officers and soldiers say ignorance of law no go excuse misconduct during 2027 general election. Di warning come as di service begin efforts to tighten discipline and professionalism around im role for election security.
Speaking at a sensitisation seminar at Nigerian Army School of Finance and Administration (NASFA) Auditorium, Arakan Barracks, Apapa, Lagos, di General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division, Major General Adebayo Babalola, urge commanders to make sure personnel wey dem deploy for election duty understand di legal limits wey dey govern searches, arrests, use of force, and treatment of civilians. E say participants should ask lecturers for clarification on legal and operational grey areas wey likely go arise during internal security operations tied to di elections.
Di seminar, wey dem organise less than six months to di 2027 polls, signal early efforts by di Army to pre-empt conduct complaints wey don trail troop deployments during past elections. Dem bin dey for allegations of intimidation and excessive use of force at checkpoints.
Two lectures anchor di programme: “Democracy and National Security: Di Role of Nigerian Military for a Democratic Dispensation,” wey Colonel Olusegun Oladuntoye (rtd) deliver, and “Di Soldier and di Ballot: Legal Pitfalls, Human Rights and Security Duties,” wey lawyer Murshadi Yahaya deliver.
Di Commander, Corps of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Major General Adeyinka Adereti, remind troops say Nigeria Police Force, not di military, be di lead agency for election security and public order. E stress political neutrality, discipline and inter-agency coordination as non-negotiable standards for deployed personnel.
Di Army tok say di seminar draw senior officers and representatives of sister security agencies, among dem di Air Officer Commanding (AOC) Logistics Command, Air Vice Marshal Abubakar Suleh; Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG Olohundare Jimoh, and representatives of other security chiefs for Lagos.
