THE ROLE OF INTELLIGENCE IN NIGERIA'S NATIONAL SECURITY: A CRITICAL ASSESSMENT (2011-2023)

Аннотация

INTRODUCTION intensified during this period, particularly in the From 2011 to 2023, Nigeria grappled with a northeastern region, leading to mass casualties, complex and evolving security landscape marked displacement, and economic devastation. In by rising threats such as terrorism, insurgency, response, Nigeria's security apparatus struggled to banditry, kidnapping, and communal conflicts. manage these escalating threats effectively, These challenges severely impacted national highlighting the critical role of intelligence in security, destabilizing the country and creating national security. widespread socio-economic disruptions. The Boko Haram insurgency, which began in 2009, The period saw not only the rise of Boko Haram but https://www.theamericanjournals.com/index.php/tajiir 113 THE USA JOURNALS THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INTERDISCIPLINARY INNOVATIONS AND RESEARCH (ISSN- 2642-7478) VOLUME 06 ISSUE11 also an increase in banditry, particularly in the addressing the country’s complex security northwest and north-central regions. Armed challenges. While considerable research has groups engaged in cattle rustling, kidnapping for focused on traditional threats like terrorism and ransom, and attacks on communities, further insurgency (Onuoha, 2019), there remains a destabilizing the country. The persistence of these substantial gap in studies addressing non- threats underscored the inadequacy of Nigeria's traditional threats such as organized crime, intelligence systems in effectively anticipating and cybercrime, and environmental degradation neutralizing such dangers. Moreover, the Niger (Adetula & Adeoye, 2021). This lack of Delta continued to be plagued by oil theft, pipeline comprehensive research on emerging security vandalism, and illegal bunkering, depriving the threats limits the ability of Nigeria’s intelligence nation of crucial revenue and exacerbating system to fully grasp and respond to the evolving environmental and social unrest. The intersection security landscape. of economic motivations, corruption, and security Additionally, much of the literature emphasizes vulnerabilities highlighted the need for a robust intelligence-gathering techniques but pays less intelligence framework to address these attention to how intelligence is utilized by interconnected issues. policymakers and security agencies (Olaniyan & Regional disparities and ethnic tensions further Yahaya, 2022). This oversight clouds the fuelled communal conflicts, leading to extensive understanding of the actual contribution of property damage, casualties, and forced migration. intelligence to decision-making processes in In addition to these internal threats, Nigeria also national security. Moreover, the integration of faced piracy in the Gulf of Guinea and other forms local knowledge and community engagement— of organized crime. These complex challenges key factors that can enhance intelligence strained Nigeria's security infrastructure, effectiveness—is often neglected (Albert, 2021). revealing significant gaps in intelligence gathering, Failing to incorporate these local insights further analysis, and utilization. hampers the ability of intelligence operations to address security threats effectively at the Against this backdrop, intelligence plays a vital grassroots level. role in understanding the intentions, capabilities, and operations of various threat actors. The ability The need for comparative studies with other to gather, analyse, and disseminate accurate countries facing similar security challenges also intelligence is crucial for informed decision- remains unmet. Without these comparative making and the development of effective national analyses, opportunities to learn from best security policies. This study critically assesses the practices and improve Nigeria's intelligence role of intelligence in addressing Nigeria's frameworks are missed. Moreover, the ethical and multifaceted security challenges from 2011 to legal implications of intelligence practices in 2023, emphasizing the need for comprehensive Nigeria have not been sufficiently explored reforms in the intelligence sector to safeguard (Onuoha, 2023), raising concerns about potential national security effectively. human rights violations, lack of accountability, and inadequate oversight. These gaps indicate an Statement of Problem urgent need for stronger legal and ethical The role of intelligence in Nigeria’s national frameworks to ensure that intelligence operations security from 2011 to 2023 reveals significant are conducted within acceptable bounds. deficiencies that hinder its effectiveness in https://www.theamericanjournals.com/index.php/tajiir 114 THE USA JOURNALS THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INTERDISCIPLINARY INNOVATIONS AND RESEARCH (ISSN- 2642-7478) VOLUME 06 ISSUE11 Despite substantial investments in security issues, and legal and ethical considerations. agencies and intelligence infrastructure, Nigeria III. Assess the impact of intelligence continues to g