Boko-Haram, Army in Clearance
Operation
Boko-Haram, Army in Clearance
Operation
Counterinsurgency: Intelligence Services Tackle
Informants, Deploy Phone-Interceptors
Determined to curb the persistent leakages of information on the
movements of troops to insurgents and other criminal elements, the
Nigerian Intelligence services have deployed sophisticated
intelligence gathering equipment and phone interceptors to detect
the activities of unpatriotic informants.
The leadership of the Security and Intelligence Services had
recommended the acquisitions of espionage equipment for decisive
actions against informants and spies who leaked discreet
information to Boko Haram (BH) members.
A top intelligence officer, who preferred anonymity told
PRNigeria that some informants have been tracked and apprehended
through some of the acquired gadgets.
The officer pointed out that the acquisitions were necessary
when clandestine human intelligence, known as HUMINT is
occasionally being threatened and exposed by uncooperative
attitudes of members of the local communities who have sympathy and
support for the terrorists.
The source said: “There are lots of success recorded in
gathering intelligence and information on the activities of enemies
of state through interpersonal contacts, but occasionally our
assets were exposed and captured by terrorists who execute the
agents in most crude manners including death by boiling, beheading,
shooting, crucifixion, stoning and by moving truck.
“The service in collaboration with our foreign intelligence
partners have deployed the sophisticated devices that cannot be
detected by the level of their concealment and mostly not even
visible to human eyes. The acquisitions are proving to be valuable
in overt and clandestine collection of intelligence across a
spectrum of sources and providing actionable intelligence to the
military who are working on the front lines with the troops.”
He disclosed that sophisticated mobile phone interceptors have
also been deployed to detect the unpatriotic informants, adding:
“With the acquisition of sophisticated Stingray devices and IMSI
catchers, we currently analyze data gathered by the equipment from
mobile phones in the targeted areas. Tougher actions are being
taken against enemies of state who leak sensitive information on
locations and movement of our troops to terrorists and criminal
elements.
“The recent online videos showing Boko Haram fighters purported
to be executing some soldiers are deliberately shared to weaken the
morale and the fighting spirits of the troops in the North-East as
some of the footages were old recordings of different locations and
some outside Nigeria.”
The security officer also commended the media for their
tremendous contributions to the counter-insurgency war, especially
through their diligent censorship and accurate fact-verification of
forged images and videos posted on social media platforms by agents
of BH terrorists.
He noted that factual reportage by the press has helped to
truncate the evil agenda of the insurgents and other criminal
elements, who desire to give a false impression that they
overwhelmed and defeated the troops fighting in the theatre of
war.
Though the officer did not deny some soldiers in captivity, he
said the security system is working assiduously to ensure the
safety of the troops.
By PRNigeria