Course 47 Visits Abia: Otti Emphasizes Intelligence-Driven Security

https://youtu.be/m9K6kH1ZB0k

UMUAHIA, Nigeria - Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has issued a stern call to the Nigerian Army, warning that the nation's worsening security challenges can only be tackled through proactive intelligence gathering.

The Governor made this known on Friday, May 9, 2025, when he received in audience a high-powered delegation from Course 47 of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji. The delegation, led by Rear Admiral Aniefok Uko, Deputy Commandant and Director of Studies at the college, paid a courtesy visit to the Governor at Government House, Umuahia.

While commending the Armed Forces for their discipline and professionalism, Governor Otti didn't mince words about the consequences of ignoring intelligence in modern security operations.

"A lot of times, if you pay attention to intelligence, you'll be able to nip in the bud the majority of criminal cases before they happen,ÔÇØ Governor Otti stated pointedly. "Security starts with intelligence. If the intelligence is solid and well-processed, it prepares the forces ahead of time. That is how real security is achieved.ÔÇØ

He applauded the theme of the military study tour-"Harnessing Grassroots Intelligence for Enhanced Internal SecurityÔÇØ-noting that it aligns with his administration's strategy in making Abia one of the safest states in Nigeria. He credited the synergy between his government and military operatives in Abia for the state's relative peace and low crime rate.

"What we've seen in Abia is a military force that works with us, cooperates, and follows the rules of engagement. That has been critical to the significant drop in criminal activities across the state,ÔÇØ he said.

Governor Otti also described as encouraging the fact that foreign military students now come to Nigeria for training, saying this shows growing global confidence in the Nigerian military system.

Rear Admiral Aniefok Uko, in his remarks, said that the Course 47 students were in Abia for their environmental study tour, a critical part of their senior-level curriculum at the Staff College. He noted that the purpose of the visit was to assess existing intelligence structures at the grassroots level and identify best practices that could be replicated in other parts of Nigeria.

"We are here to observe, learn, and integrate valuable local intelligence strategies into our national security framework. If we find a model that works in Abia, it becomes a template for other states,ÔÇØ Rear Admiral Uko said.

He thanked Governor Otti for the warm reception and assured that the delegation would return with valuable lessons from Abia's internal security model.

The visit comes at a time when Nigeria is facing increasing security threats across its regions, and analysts say Otti's message serves as a timely reminder that without intelligence-led security, even the most equipped military could falter.

[caption id="attachment_189483" align="alignnone" width="2048"] Governor Alex Choice Otti OFR[/caption]