Defence chief Olufemi Oluyede says military strength alone cannot defeat terrorism without protecting civilians and building community trust.

Mr Oluyede stated this at the opening of the Human Security and Civil-Military Cooperation Training Workshop on Tuesday in Abuja.

The defence chief said Nigeria’s security environment remains complex and multidimensional, with terrorism, violent extremism, banditry, communal conflicts and other criminal activities affecting communities.

He said the challenges required a comprehensive approach that placed the protection of lives, human dignity and community wellbeing at the centre of security operations.

“Operational effectiveness must consequently be pursued alongside the protection of civilians, respect for human rights and adherence to the rule of law. Such principles strengthen the legitimacy of security operations, public confidence and their sustainability,” he said.

Mr Oluyede said effective engagement with communities, traditional authorities, government institutions and other stakeholders was critical to improving situational awareness and strengthening responses to security threats.

He said the workshop would provide participants from the Armed Forces and other security agencies an opportunity to exchange operational experiences and strengthen inter-agency cooperation.

Mr Oluyede said particular attention would be given to drug abuse and addiction, sexual violence, sexual exploitation and abuse in operational environments. He noted that these issues could affect individual wellbeing, discipline, operational readiness and the credibility of security operations.

Mr Oluyede said the workshop aligned with his strategic philosophy of consolidating the armed forces’ capabilities through enhanced jointness and a reinforced operational posture.

He said the approach was also anchored on improved welfare, sound administration and a whole-of-government strategy to guarantee Nigeria’s sovereignty and prosperity.

The defence chief urged participants to identify practical measures to improve operational planning, community engagement, and prevention mechanisms across their respective areas of responsibility. He said knowledge acquired from the workshop must translate into improved professional conduct and stronger civil-military relations.

The chief of defence civil-military relations, Saburi Lawal, said the workshop was designed to deepen participants’ understanding of human security and civil-military cooperation.

Mr Lawal said contemporary security threats were increasingly complex, adaptive and interconnected, requiring responses beyond military capability and kinetic operations. He said lasting security must address threats to individuals and communities, including violence, displacement, exploitation, abuse and other conditions undermining human dignity.

The senior officer restated that civil-military cooperation remained critical to the success of counter-terrorism operations. He urged participants to share experiences, examine operational challenges, and develop recommendations to improve civil-military engagements.

Mr Lawal said the workshop’s ultimate measure would be its contribution to improved operational practices in the field.

He also noted that operational effectiveness and respect for human dignity were mutually reinforcing, adding that protecting civilians and adhering to human rights must remain integral to operations.

The chief of defence civil-military relations said the department remained committed to strengthening the capacity of personnel involved in civil-military engagements.

He expressed confidence that the workshop would contribute to more effective, coordinated and responsive counter-terrorism operations.

(NAN)