Gumi knows exactly what he is doing, he is a collaborator. Every time the military/security agencies initiate an offensive against the bandits, they send representatives to the state governors that they are ready for negotiations and when the governors accept and convince the military to suspend the offensive against the bandits, some accept the amnesty and go back to their old ways while others don't bother at all, they just continue with their crimes.
This time around, the governors are not willing to listen and even if they are, the situation is beyond them so Gumi is trying to create panic and fear to force the government to look at the negotiation path again.
He is a retired military officer so he isn't ignorant of what is going on at all, he understands and he is playing a game.

The bandits are kidnapping huge numbers of people as they are running from the military onslaught to use as human shields especially against airstrikes.
How will the military cope with this?
The hostages will definitely slow the bandits down but will also grant them protection.

ugo4u:

Forget about those guys if I have my way I will even scrap that agency or kuku integrate them with their twin brother (NPF). If not for the military especially the Army and Airforce, all of us for done become refugees in neighbouring countries. The way they were even created is even faulty that agency needs a foundational rejigging & only the constitution can fix that.

Contrary to popular opinion, DSS actually plays one of the most important role in the counter-insurgency warfare but in the background. Majority of their actions are not what the public should know about.

The recent statement from Gumi is very irresponsible, he is trying all his best to launder the image of the bandits and advocating for negotiations, ordinarily there shouldn't be any problem wit that but these are the same criminals that have been offered amnesty several times, most of them declined while others accepted and went back to their criminal ways within a short period. The bandits have problems with government and governance, is that why they are now terrorizing innocent people of other ethnic groups? The same bad governance every ethnic group has been a victim of for several years yet didn't take it on others.
At a time when everyone is supposed to be distancing themselves from these barbaric criminals, some people are making a case for them. The only thing still preventing the pogrom of fulanis in Nigeria is because we still have people who understand the differences between fulanis and the criminals and governments at all levels are preventing self defense groups from having too much freedom yet we have people like Gumi attempting to blur the lines between the criminals and the fulani ethnic group.
It is in the best interest of everyone to shut this man up, I don't even understand why media organizations are still broadcasting his speeches. He will be totally mute when the bandits are committing atrocities yet suddenly find his voice whenever same is being visited on them.

kabe1:


I agree with this.



I think with the purchase of 2 x new OPVs, the Hamiltons might be placed on reserve.

Unfortunately, i don't see a scenario where the next government that comes in, increases military budget.

Whatever modernisation that needs to happen, if the 3 armed services don't use this opportunity to modernise, i fear for future upgrades of the military in the short term.

Every other government that comes in after this government would be more economy minded.

I just don't see any future budget increase unfortunately. The military can only hope on other revenue streams.

In any case, i could still be wrong.

Definitely we need atleast 2 Corvettes & 1 Frigate or 4 Corvettes.

The security of the gulf of Guinea is very important to the economy of Nigeria. Especially now that critical economic assets are being sited near the shores(LFTZ and Dangote refineries etc). For a country that depends heavily on import of finished product and export of raw materials, we can't have a strong economy if we don't have safe waters.

Strange RUMORS from the northeast.
Hearing that Al-barnawi might have been killed. Also, JAS now has a new leader.
Rumors though.

Odunayaw:
Blue water capacity = Voyage?

Toh

Of what use is a Blue-water navy when your local waters aren't safe? They actually have a point but this was why I was talking about upgrading the deep blue project to a coast guard and allow the navy to focus on being a navy that can defend against aggression from the sea. Senegal has just gotten 3 missile armed OPVs, it's only a matter of time before Ghana and other West African countries start getting missile armed ships too. No one will wait for us to get our shit together.
But then, we also need a very strong economy to be able to finance a strong navy and being a country that depends heavily on sea trade, we need to take care of our local waters first.

One thing is very glaring, the airforce and the navy are undergoing modernization, they are making sure to do things the right way and the only thing limiting them is funding. The army isn't serious yet, they could start by changing the callibres of most of their guns to ensure they dominate the battlefield, then invest in RCWS for precision shots....... Force multipliers to be exact.
I only pray that the next administration will be able to continue where this administration stops and will find a way to provide more funds for the modernization program.

Two weeks isn't enough to deal with the crisis in the northwest Sha, I don't know how they are going to achieve something meaningful under two weeks. Unless they are going to be training and recruiting volunteers into vigilante groups that will continue pushing on the bandits after the military might have weakened them in these two weeks.

It is believed that the Niger special vigilante corps(NSVC) trained and under the supervision of the police and the Niger state government are behind the recent killings of over 40 bandits in shiroro community of Niger state. In the neighboring state, the governor with the advice of his ex-bandits security advisers have banned vigilante groups for months now. Some of those advisers were recently caught involving in crimes.

youghs:
Something fishy is going down.l

Most likely to prevent insiders from passing information on military activities and other Intels to the bandits.

It appears that Panjshir Valley in Afghanistan has fallen to the talibans

DubaiLandLord:
Police tactical operatives in Zamfara state, in collaboration with other security agencies, have repelled a large number of armed bandits, who came to Shinkafi town in their hundreds, with intent to attack innocent people of the area.

In a statement issued to Newsmen in Gusau Friday, the the Public Relations Officer, SP Muhammad Shehu, said the bandits, who were from the camp of a notorious bandits kingpin, “TURJI” were heavily engaged in a gun duel by the Joint security forces stationed in Shinkafi to safeguard the lives and property of the community.

“At the end of the gun battle that lasted for hours, one of the bandits was fatally injured, while others escaped with possible bullet wounds,” he explained.

According to him, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ayuba N Elkana, had already directed the immediate deployment of more security operatives to complement the existing security arrangements that will curtail any further attack by the bandits.

“The Commissioner of Police further commended the resilience of the operatives and charged them to sustain the tempo so that the state can be adequately protected,” he stated.

https://www.blueprint.ng/security-agents-neutralize-bandits-in-zamfara/

One of the bandit's leaders threatened that town with destruction if they didn't protest against the bans imposed by the state.

If there is one thing that will destroy the work of the current service chiefs, it is lack of publicity.
The fact that many people believe the military isn't doing anything about bandits and criminals is in itself a driving force for criminality. In order for deterrence to work, it must be adequately publicized.
Apart from deterrence, showing members of the public their efforts in protecting their lives and properties will increase people's confidence and trust in them which will lead to increase support and intelligence gathering.
It is human nature to always want to belong to the winning side. This is exactly why many are afraid to provide the military with information because they are afraid of what the bandits/terrorists will do to them when they "win"
https://twitter.com/DejiAdesogan/status/1433803531404857353?s=19

shadowprimezero:


100% agree with this assessment. It is what it is. For all the nay sayers, how many missile armed vessels does the NN have. The NN has very limited Blue water capabilities. Its strategic growth plans and recapitalisation efforts would see it into a very formidable force in a few years, but in its current state, if we're being honest,its a glorified coast guard

Majority of the plans in the recapitalization program is why I wish to see the deep blue project develop into a coast guard and allow NN to focus on being a real navy.


And hopefully, the new OPVs the navy will be getting will be missile armed.

SamuelAnyawu:
Sambisa Returnees everywhere.

It’s Overwhelming on us all. Well Humanitarian is a call to serve

There is a very high risk of suicide bombing with the way those people are clustered together.

EricBraven:

I won't say It is not about intelligence or political will,it is about timing and the ability to be easily mobile and uncertainty. You may have ISR craft above them but are you sure they don't have kidnapped victims in their midst that is being used as shield

In the interview of the former group captain of the Nigerian airforce, he mentioned something about having eyes in the sky at all times, something like observation balloons that will enhance the effectiveness of other ISR platforms. The airforce first needs to know where they are right now and then continue to monitor their movement until it a suitable time to destroy them. The few ISR platforms we have can't stay in the air for so long.

Tobiloba24072:



I really think it's the VN1, that we are getting...it's the troop carrying variant of our ST1 105mm tank destroyer, so for logistics reason it's a great buy. I just pray they don't put a manual 12.7mm on it, we need something that can touch these terrorist from ranges that their weapons are ineffective and inaccurate. If the army hasn't bought it yet, they should get 2 axis stabilized 30mm remote control platforms, at the long run it's cheaper in terms of human lifes, and equipment boko haram can engage and destroy unless it's an ambush, and even cheaper in the amount of rounds and stopping power needed to neutralise a target.... spending 40* 12.7mm rounds, compared to 6* 30mm rws has to have economies of scale in favour of 30mm rounds in the multiplier effects.

Use of UGCVs will be a massive boost to the Army but they are not willing to embrace technology.

JOSCOFELIX:
i no get the liver to snap pic. i was very close to the convoy snaping will put me at high danger. it was excort by sf.guard brigade was the name written on the vechice.

Guard's Brigade are not SF now, apparently you saw the convoy around Abuja?

JOSCOFELIX:
NA is getting there Vt4 mbt . just see new 4 mbt on 4 truck

Abeg dey take pictures now

The IFV we were talking about earlier could have been a family of the ZBL-09 modular armoured wheeled vehicles on which many weapons were based on. It has an IFV/APC variant. And with this info JOSCOFELIX is giving right now, it could just be another shipment of the initial order of the VT-4s and ST-1 etc from Norinco.

.

Tobiloba24072:


People that bought btr3 and btr 4....with 30mm remote weapon system, they refused to buy ammunition and use the rws.....and put .50 cal weapon on it.....let's wait and see the rubbish they would do again.

That was Dasuki now he was the one in charge of procurement then, he also got the T-72 without spares the enough ammunition.
NA had to be begging NAF for the required ammunition for the BTRs then and those ones also needed it desperately.

We've had really bad NSA in this country. They should consider putting a foreign expatriate in that position for some time, not because we don't have capable and patriotic people that are eligible but because our politicians tend to listen more to foreigners.

ariesbull:


Lol. too much...is it not the same AK iswap use ?

The difference is that the cobbler or carpenter or driver within a garrisoned town today can be the leader of an attack on the same town tomorrow. On many instances, attacks have been started by terrorists that have been inhabiting the town. The flexibility is the difference.

DubaiLandLord:
Una don start all this una excuse upon excuse again

This is not the first time ISWAP will attack a military formation in the North East this way. The commander was suppose to have make plans for this kind of attack.

But as for me, it seems ISWAP caught them by surprise. They must have been relaxed, thinking the terrorists won't attack during the raining season... They were caught off guard

Make the Nigerian military stop this their arrogance, and com negotiate with people like me wey sabi, though I won't be helping for free and I will earn in US dollars

On a more serious note, Many of the bases in the northeast are just camps, not defensible in the face of properly coordinated attacks from multiple directions. The Military should first invest in proper defenses and defense structures, then reinforce defense training in the curriculum of training of the troops.

The Kaduna and Katsina states governments have joined the Zamfara state government in placing certain restrictions that is aimed at cutting off fuel and other logistics supplies to the bandits and also restrict their freedom of movement.
Already, one of the bandits leaders have threatened terror against the inhabitants of a town for not protesting against the restrictions.

More of coordinated actions among states and federal government will help in solving the problem faster.

The only part where the commander of that garrison failed is where not withdrawing with the military assets in the town and allowing the terrorists to destroy them.



https://humanglemedia.com/military-smash-daring-iswap-squad-after-dislodgement-of-base/

NafeesaAA:


They captured Rann, destroyed military hardwares. If not for NAF intervention, these guys would have returned back successfully. Its pathetic how NA is finding it difficult to fight without NAF support

LOL, while trying to discredit the Army, you ended up posting their wins, any fighting force can be forced to give ground, very few can return to counter the enemy's attack. And why put yourself in unnecessary risk when you can just wait till you have an overwhelming advantage over the enemy?

In fact the whole incidence showed tactical brilliance. There is no point in fighting a battle you are surely going to lose, especially when you are surrounded, but you can escape from the trap and turn the tide against your enemy.

If they had captured Rann, would the Army had been able to launch an offensive to recapture it back considering the terrain? Maybe this is a sleek attempt at capturing and holding the town at least till the end of the raining season.

Tobiloba24072:


Army just keeps falling hand, we need proper infantry fighting vehicles.

At least it's getting better, each of those IFVs would mean 15 soldiers having protected mobility. One of those in a mobile column could be of great advantage against ambushes.

kabe1:


Perhaps Army high command don't trust commanders enough to ensure the safety of new equipment. They might have also looked at the cost of purchasing a modern IFV vis-a-vis battlefield sustainability and decided, quantity over quality.

But those presently at the high command were also in the fields not too long ago as commanders and know what the soldiers need to do their work. What's really wrong with them?



The only reasonable excuse is if it is an emergency purchase to quickly replace those lost to last year's dry season before another offensive begins.

RiceProducers:


İ beg your pardon. All IFV/APCs were designed in the 80s.

Many have been upgraded multiple times over the years. This one hasn't been.

cutievik:


Yeah..

It's disappointing Sha, at this stage we shouldn't be buying weapons designed in the 1980s. But at least we have more protected mobility for the coming offensive.

Na just got some Norinco Type 89 AFVs. Check the video on Jake's page.

One day, we will talk about the discipline of manning weapons at all times and how the lack of it has cost us a lot of lives and money. In many of ISWAP's successful attacks, the reason they destroy armoured vehicles is because they are usually not manned and in the event of a surprise attack, the terrorist creates a panic that prevent trooos from getting to those vehicles which they then eventually burn.
Having a driver and a gunner at all times manning such vehicles could be the difference between life and death. Each driver and gunner should spend nothing more than 4-5 hours a day before they are rotated out. All over the country, you see military equipment without personnel manning them and you wonder how easily such could be destroyed.

Picture credit: Jteku

SamuelAnyawu:



Highly possible. Two Brand new MRAPS came to my Brigade Yesterday. The Military were even testing the MRAPs Mounted guns.

This one that it's looking like they are planning to use them for defense again like this..... Equipment that they are meant to be warming up for the next offensive.
I really wish the Army can switch from 12.7mm to 14.5mm on guntrucks and turrets.