(Dr. Lemmy Ughegbe. Photo by Premuim times Nigeria)
Public affairs analyst and activist Dr. Lemmy Ughegbe has said that the recent arrest of five suspected terrorists among them two foreign nationals by the Department of State Services (DSS) is proof that Nigeria’s security agencies are capable of producing impressive outcomes when they are properly resourced and supported.
Ughegbe shared these views during a Wednesday interview online, where the discussion centred on Nigeria’s security challenges and the role ordinary citizens can play in addressing them.
He acknowledged the gravity of the country’s security situation, pointing out that even President Bola Tinubu has publicly admitted that insecurity remains a serious concern.
While not downplaying the difficulties, he said the DSS operation should serve as a source of encouragement, arguing that it demonstrated the agency’s capacity not just potential to generate credible, actionable intelligence when given the right conditions to operate.
He added that the ability to infiltrate terrorist networks, intercept communications, and disrupt the movement of weapons among criminal groups was on full display in this operation.
Ughegbe stressed, however, that intelligence work cannot succeed without the active cooperation of the public.
He urged Nigerians to pay closer attention to their surroundings and report anything suspicious to the authorities, noting that security operatives rely heavily on tip-offs from community members to do their jobs effectively.
He also expressed concern that many Nigerians live in neighbourhoods where they barely know their neighbours a reality that, in his view, creates environments where terrorists and criminals can operate undetected.
The analyst further called on political leaders and opposition figures to resist the temptation to turn national security into a partisan issue, arguing that the safety of citizens must always take priority over political calculations.
He stressed that without a secure environment, even the conduct of elections becomes impossible.
Drawing on examples from other countries that have faced major security threats, Ughegbe appealed for greater national unity in confronting insecurity, urging Nigerians to set aside political differences and focus first and foremost on the collective task of safeguarding the country.