INTELLIGENCE GATHERING IS A STRATEGIC TOOL FOR SUCCESSFUL SECURITY AND INTELLIGENCE OPERATIONS.

ABSTRACT

The role of intelligence  in ensuring security in Nigeria is the core of this thesis. The study discovered the use of intelligence gathering and sharing is a very useful security strategy in overcoming insecurity in Nigeria. In-depth interviews with past and present intelligence officers and the engagement of experts in security from academia brought a new dimension of crime prevention for policy could be a new way human intelligence could add on to existing strategies.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background Of The Study

With the advent of advanced crime syndicates and evolving crime patterns, Police forces across the world are currently facing severe challenges in policing their respective countries and communities. A major challenge is the increasing ‘globalization of criminality” in the form of transnational organized crimes that threaten national and global economic development and political stability.

Crimes such as Armed robbery, terrorism, Money Laundering, Vandalizing Government properties, corruption, drug trafficking, human trafficking, theft of mineral resources, arms smuggling and trade in fake and substandard pharmaceutical and industrial products amongst others have evolved from what it was in the 20th century.  Nigeria, these internal threats manifest mostly in the form of communal conflicts, both inter and intra, ethnic, religious as well as finding expression in militant activities. Typical examples of a security operation in plateau state is the operation safe haven. The mandate of these security operations was to reverse the state of insecurity in the affected areas. Nigeria has had to grapple over the years with the challenge of inadequate intelligence sharing amongst its security and law enforcement agencies. The non effectiveness of the intelligence in support of security operations in Nigeria are attributed to inadequate human and technical intelligence capabilities.

For these crimes to abate there is need to take a proactive approach rather than reactive approach which is the traditional policing model, to prevent crime, knowledge and intelligence beyond local and national jurisdictions are more than often required. furthermore it is necessary for the law enforcement agencies to understand that the acquisition of knowledge for the policing of these crimes requires dynamic engagement and partnership among security and intelligence agencies as well as between law enforcement agencies and critical non-law enforcement stakeholders within and across nations.

Consequently, nations require certain instruments to contain these threats. These are a strong military supported by an intelligence apparatus. Also, nations adopt strategies and policies such as defence and security policies to enable them to respond appropriately and safeguard them from both external and internal threats (Enahoro, 2010). Intelligence, as a critical tool of statecraft, provides the necessary warning about imminent threats policy makers in order to protect a nation from being subjected to surprise military attacks. Intelligence as a security strategy is able to avert imminent threats to a country by providing timely, processed information to national security decision makers. This is achieved through the acquisition of covert information by covert means on the actions, policies and capabilities of other nations. The information, which is of utmost importance to national security, is collected, analyzed and disseminated for use to support action. Thus, the role of intelligence is to support action that may be deemed necessary in the furtherance of national interests (Lowenthal, 2007).

1.2 Statement Of The General Problem

Intelligence led policing has gradually established itself as the modern approach to crime management. The principle of intelligence-led policing describes how knowledge and understanding of criminal threats are used to drive law enforcement actions in response to threat of organized crime. There is need for overall improvement in the overall responses in the police department therefore; it will be very disastrous that as security professionals, there is a low knowledge of intelligence in dissolution of organized crimes in Nigeria.

Another. issue in the Nigeria security unit was seen as lack of operational effort in the highest priority areas which as at today puts terrorism at the top within the Nigerian internal security space and in the global crime.

It is against this backdrop that this study seeks to examine the role of intelligence gathering as a strategic tool for successful security and intelligence operations in Nigeria.

1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The objectives of the study are:

Examine the role of security intelligence strategies in ensuring security in Nigeria.

Suggest some solutions to intelligence lapses if any.

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTION(S)

The research questions for this work include:

What is the role of security intelligence strategies in ensuring security in Nigeria?

Are there any lapses in security intelligence in the fight against insecurity in Nigeria?