By Augustine Ehikioya
Children from selected schools in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and neighbouring states have had a rare opportunity to clarify from top military brass security issues bothering them.
The opportunity was part of activities marking the 2025 National Children’s Day, which was celebrated on the 27th of May.
The arena was the Security Watch Africa (SWA) programme on the Africa Independent Television (AIT), normally anchored by SWA President / CEO, Mr. Patrick Agbambu.
Titled “Strategic Interface With Selected Children For 2025 Children’s Day,” the face-to-face sitting scenario offered the children the opportunity to ask what the Armed Forces of Nigeria is doing to secure their lives in the face of insecurity in the country.
The security team was led by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Gwabin Musa, who was represented by Navy Commodore Rotimi Oderemi.
Other military personnel at the forum included Captain HR Mamza and Lieutenant ID Obarein, both from the Department of Civil-Military Affairs of the Nigerian Army represented the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede.
The students had an unhindered atmosphere to ask their questions as they took over the show.
They included Sonia Asanu from Funtaj International School, Abuja; Mitchell Edenojie from The Lord’s College, Nasarawa State; Nwachukwu Mitchell and Victor Simon from Blissville Private School, Kubwa; Okorobia Honour, Nnadi Akachukwu and Zechariah Christian from Plow Charis Academy, Abuja.
Answering some of the questions, Commodore Oderemi disclosed that the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) is the backbone of Nigeria’s defence system.
According to him, the task is the protection of the sovereignty, the defence of Nigeria’s territorial integrity, and the protection of the citizens.
He said the AFN consists of three services including the Army, the Navy and the Air Force.
Apart from their constitutional functions, Commodore Oderemi said there are other specific roles assigned to the three services covering land, water and air protection.
To effectively discharge their duties individually, he said that they depend on one another for support.
The Civil-Military Relations department, according to him, is tasked to make the military more friendly with civilians, through non-kinetic operations.
The relationship of the department with the civilians, he said, apart from rendering services to the civilians, is to get useful information from the communities.
He however noted that the information has to be timely to make the military proactive towards preventing crimes from taking place.
On her part, Lieutenant Obarein disclosed that there are different types of commissions in the Armed Forces through which someone can get enlisted into the military.
She said they included the regular commission for second school leavers, the direct short service commission and the short service commission meant for graduates who want to get into any of the Armed Forces.
Lieutenant Obarein also disclosed that the military set up forward operational bases close to educational facilities to enable quick response against attacks on civilians.
In doing that, she said that the military works closely with the police and other paramilitary agencies like the Civil Defence for proper synergy to respond quickly to any attack.
According to her, the military also goes to schools to educate students about security and how important it is for everyone to play their roles.
She urged everyone, including students, to be vigilant and monitor what’s happening around them and immediately disclose whatever looks suspicious.
Also answering the students’ questions, Captain Mamza said that the AFN has evolved new training and strategies to counter the activities of insurgents and other criminals by preparing the personnel for asymmetric warfare.
In the warfare, he said that the enemies are always faceless, and hidden and always try to harm the civilians the AFN is trying to protect.
He harped on the importance of civilians working with the military by giving timely and useful information.
Captain Mamza insisted that security is a shared responsibility and should not be left to the military or police alone.
“When you see something as children, say something to an elderly person, who will in turn pass it to the security personnel,” he stated.
To ensure safety, he said that the military has deployed men in all the geopolitical zones of the country to ensure immediate and efficient response to all security challenges.
From President Bola Tinubu, said, new platforms are being provided for the military to ensure adequate response to all forms of criminality.
According to him, the Army has also set up a department to create awareness of how the military relates to civilians.
Through the department, he said, the civilians can always report any suspicious activities they observe.
Captain Mamza also informed the students that the Civil authority through the instrumentality of the police is the first responder to internal security matters.
The military, he said, steps in when the issues are beyond the capacity of the Police.
At the end of the TV programme, the students were given souvenirs to mark the children’s day.