Insecurity: Army To Capitalise On Indigenous Language To Boost Intelligence Gathering

The Nigerian Army has uncovered plans to boost operational efficiency through intelligence gathering in indigenous language.

Speaking at the 9th Indigenous Languages Proficiency Course 9/2022 on Friday in Abuja, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, said there is a need for quick intervention into the current security environment in the country.

The COAS, who was represented by the Chief of Administration, Maj.-Gen. Usman Muhammed, said that all army operations were intelligence driven, adding that their ability to surmount the security challenge would largely be dependent on intelligence gathering.

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The Nigerian Army Resource Centre graduated a total of 124 personnel comprising 39 officers and 85 soldiers.

He said effective intelligence gathering could be facilitated by understanding of the local languages by the personnel involved in the operations.

“Suffice to say that all these operations are intelligence driven.

“Therefore, our ability to adequately and professionally respond to these domestic security challenges will depend essentially on credible and reliable intelligence, which is dependent on the ability to communicate with the local population.

“The populace is being encouraged with the slogan, ‘see something, say something’ which depends on the ability of personnel to communicate with people within the operational area.

“Effective communication in part, will essentially require some level of proficiency in the local dialect of the operating environment.

“This informs why you have learnt the three major Nigerian languages of Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba.

“Proficiency in these local languages will, therefore, hasten your speedy integration and ability to penetrate local operating environments,” he said.