Former military governor of old Kano State, Colonel Sani Bello (retd), has called on the Federal Government to integrate police personnel into military operations and recall retired soldiers to bolster Nigeria’s fight against banditry and insurgency.
Speaking in an interview with Premier Radio Kano, Bello argued that security agencies already know the locations of notorious bandit leaders but lack the political will to act decisively.
“Wherever these bandits are hiding, the government knows their locations. Security personnel know exactly where they are and how to reach them,” he said, insisting that Nigeria has the intelligence, equipment, and military capability to confront armed groups effectively.
He dismissed claims that Nigeria lacks adequate weapons, pointing to surveillance drones, artillery, and military aircraft available to the armed forces.
“Do the bandits have aircraft? They do not. They cannot match the sophisticated weapons and technology available to the government,” Bello noted.While commending frontline troops for their efforts, Bello stressed that they are overstretched due to widespread insecurity.
He urged the government to treat the crisis as a national emergency and substantially increase troop numbers.
Drawing from his civil war experience, Bello recalled how Nigeria expanded its military strength from fewer than 10,000 personnel to over 200,000 through intensive recruitment, including from the then Native Authority Police and retired servicemen.
He suggested a similar approach today, arguing that police officers would require only limited training before deployment.
“Even if retired personnel serve for six months, they can reinforce our troops. If the government adopts this approach, it could make a significant difference in the fight against insurgency,” he said.
Bello also expressed concern over manpower shortages, noting that many battalions now operate with fewer than 200 soldiers instead of the standard 700.
He urged the government to act decisively, warning that Nigeria must distinguish between conventional warfare and guerrilla tactics to prevent further deterioration of the security situation.
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