Insecurity: Sokoto begs ONSA to extend crisis response exercise

Sokoto state Special Adviser on Security Matters, Col. Ahmed Usman (rtd.)

The Sokoto State Government has urged the Office of the National Security Adviser to extend its Rapid Response 3 Crisis Response Exercise to the state to strengthen inter-agency preparedness against banditry and other security threats.

The state’s Special Adviser on Security Matters, Col. Ahmed Usman (rtd.), made the call while commending the ONSA for initiating the multi-agency exercise, describing it as a critical step towards testing Nigeria’s capacity to respond effectively to complex emergencies.

Usman said the exercise was particularly important because security threats were constantly changing, requiring security agencies and emergency responders to regularly assess and improve their operational readiness.

“Security threats are dynamic, and our response mechanisms must also be dynamic. We need to continuously test our systems to know what works, identify gaps and address them before a real crisis occurs,” he said.

The Sokoto SA on Security Matters also expressed the state’s readiness to host a similar exercise, particularly in view of the security challenges confronting some communities in Sokoto.

“Sokoto would be very interested in having this type of exercise. We have communities that have experienced banditry, and a simulation of this nature would help us assess how prepared we are to respond to a major security incident,” Usman said.

According to him, bringing the exercise to Sokoto would provide an opportunity for the military, police, other security agencies, emergency responders and government authorities to test their coordination and communication under a unified crisis-management structure.

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“It is not enough for agencies to work independently. In a major emergency, they must be able to communicate effectively, share information and respond collectively. This is one of the areas such an exercise can help us strengthen,” he said.

Usman said the proposed exercise would also enable authorities to identify weaknesses in existing response mechanisms and develop practical measures to improve the protection of lives and property.

He added that the lessons from Sokoto could be useful in strengthening crisis-response mechanisms across the North-West, where several states are dealing with similar security challenges.

“We believe Sokoto can provide a useful environment for this kind of exercise. The state government is willing to provide the necessary cooperation and support if ONSA decides to bring the exercise here,” he said.

Usman stressed that effective crisis management should be based on preparedness rather than reaction, noting that regular simulations would help agencies build the experience and coordination required to respond quickly when emergencies occur.

“Our priority must be to save lives. We should test our preparedness before a crisis happens, not wait for a major incident before discovering that there are gaps in our response system,” he said.