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Tag: Dennis Amachree

  • Governors should use security votes to support state police, says Amachree

    Governors should use security votes to support state police, says Amachree

    A retired Director of the State Security Service (DSS), Dennis Amachree on Monday, weighed in on the ongoing debate around the establishment of state police to combat escalating insecurity across the country.

    He shared his views in a chat with The Nation on Monday morning, asking if the governors would be willing to fund the state police from their security votes.

    The Nation reports that state governors monthly receive an undisclosed amount of money as security votes which they neither retire nor account for.

    Over the years, there have been calls from Nigerians particularly the civil society for security votes to state governors to be budgeted so that the people will know what the money was spent on and the amount.

    Speaking on the proposed creation of state police, Amachree highlighted its gains including how it would bring law enforcement to the grassroots because it would be composed of officers recruited within their own communities.

    According to him, the familiarity with the local terrain, culture and dynamics could lead to better intelligence gathering, quicker response times and a greater understanding of specific security challenges within each state. 

    The security expert also said the creation of state police would reduce the burden of the Nigeria Police Force, which was currently overstretched, underfunded and struggling to effectively police the entire country.

    “However, there is the risk of political misuse. There are concerns that state governors could potentially misuse state police forces for political purposes; such as suppressing dissent, manipulating elections, or consolidating personal power. 

    “Also, will the governors be ready to use the monthly security votes to support the state police?

    “Most importantly is a clear legal framework, to define the responsibilities of state and federal police and ensure effective coordination and cooperation on issues that transcend state borders. 

    “If well planned and implemented, it could be a significant part of the solution to Nigeria’s insecurity crises,” he explained.

  • Ambush: Why Military authorities must close intelligence loophole, by Ex-DSS director 

    Ambush: Why Military authorities must close intelligence loophole, by Ex-DSS director 

    A former Assistant Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Dennis Amachree, says military authorities must close the loophole in intelligence gathering to bolster its terror fight in the North-East geopolitical zone.

    Amachree, who spoke on national television on Friday, said though there were gains in the fight against bandits and terrorists in the North-West and the North-East geopolitical zones respectively, “there is a loophole”.

    “Although we are making gains, especially in Borno, the military power and of course, even the security intelligence power is concentrated in Maiduguri,” he said.

    According to him, far-flung areas like Damboa, Chibok, and Gwoza, all in Borno State don’t have sufficient military power and so “the terrorists have time to go around”.

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    An unspecified number of military personnel were missing in a recent ambush by Boko Haram terrorists in Baga, on the fringes of Lake Chad.

    The soldiers were reportedly ambushed while trying to recover the dead bodies of 40 residents killed by the insurgents when they were ambushed.

    Several soldiers were also shot dead in the gun battle that ensued.

    Also, days ago, terrorists linked to the Islamic State group reportedly killed six soldiers in a raid on a military base in Borno.

    Amachree said after the fight, insurgents are “supposed to be driven away and the police are supposed to take over but after the fight, the natives are left alone and when the insurgents return and don’t see any security agent, they strike”.

    He expressed disappointment that the military didn’t get the right intelligence to tell them that the blood-thirsty marauders were still around “and going there to pick up dead bodies, I don’t think it was a good idea”.

    Amachree also remarked on the need to help the reporting line of all security agencies in the country to coordinate intelligence sharing among sister agencies.

    Amachree said, “He (Tinubu) said in his very first speech that he is going to restructure the security architecture and what he has done changing the heads of the agencies, I think it is a very good move.

    “Also, equipping them and of course, bringing all of them under the National Security Adviser.

    “That way, the National Security Adviser will play its normal role of a clearing house for intelligence so that people are not talking differently, and they are all putting their eggs in one basket.”

    On what to be done to minimise attacks, Amachree, who hailed the appointment of Folashade Adekaiyaoja, as the Deputy Director General of the DSS, said her role will aid the service to perform optimally. 

    “They should go by intelligence driven security by applying artificial intelligence, which will enhance their operations.”