UMUAHIA, ABIA STATE – Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has urged the Nigerian Army to prioritize intelligence gathering as a crucial strategy in proactively addressing insecurity challenges within the state and the nation at large.

The Governor made this call on Friday, May 9th, while hosting a delegation from Course 47 of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College of Nigeria. The delegation was led by the Deputy Commandant and Director of Studies of the college, Rear Admiral Aniefok Uko.

Dr. Otti emphasized the pivotal role of effective intelligence in preempting criminal activities. “A lot of times, if you pay attention to intelligence, you will be able to nip in the bud the majority of the cases before they happen,” he stated. “So, pay attention to intelligence. It’s good that that is what this course is about too.”

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Highlighting his administration’s stance on security, Governor Otti affirmed, “We have also held a strong view that security starts from intelligence. Thorough and well put together intelligence would always predict and sometimes put the forces in a state of readiness.”

He expressed his satisfaction that Nigeria is attracting foreign military students for training, viewing it as a testament to the discipline and quality of the Nigerian military. He further cited the exemplary collaboration between the military and his government in Abia State, which he said has been instrumental in combating crime and criminality.

Governor Otti congratulated the visiting students and thanked the college’s leadership for choosing Abia State for their study tour. He reiterated his administration’s unwavering commitment to partnering with security agencies to maintain peace in the state.

Earlier in his address, Rear Admiral Aniefok Uko explained that the visit of Course 47 students to Abia State is a key component of their senior course curriculum, specifically an environmental study tour focused on the theme: “Harnessing Grassroots Intelligence for Enhanced Internal Security.”

He elaborated that the tour aims to provide the students with practical, on-the-ground experience to complement their theoretical learning. “So, the students are here in Abia State to look at Abia and the existing structures which can be galvanized, towards assisting the government and also the security agencies with veritable intelligence.”

Rear Admiral Uko added that the study tour offers an opportunity to identify and adopt best practices observed in Abia State, which the students can then implement in their future assignments to bolster national security.

He expressed his gratitude to Governor Otti for hosting Course 47 in Abia State and for the arrangements made to ensure their comfort during the visit.