The Nigerian Army has called for stronger communal support and intelligence sharing from communities across Rivers State as part of efforts to enhance civil-military cooperation and improve national security.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, made the call during the 7th Edition of the Nigerian Army Key Stakeholders Engagement Forum held in Port Harcourt on February 19, 2026. The forum, themed “Taking the Nigerian Army to the Communities,” focused on deepening collaboration between the military and civilian populations.
Represented by the Director-General of the Nigerian Army Finance Corporation, Major General Julius Osifo, the Army Chief stressed that the military cannot effectively achieve its constitutional mandate without the active support of local communities.
He emphasized the importance of a “whole-of-society approach” to national security, noting that combating terrorism, insurgency, banditry, oil theft, and other emerging security threats requires the participation of traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth groups, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders.
According to him, such collaboration would foster a more professional, adaptable, and people-oriented Nigerian Army capable of addressing contemporary security challenges within a joint multi-agency framework.
Delivering a keynote address titled “Taking the Nigerian Army to the Communities,” retired Brigadier General Bright Ateke Fiboinumama, who is also the Amayanabo of Amadi-Ama Town, said the Army can only achieve its national security mandate through close collaboration with community leadership structures.
He noted that the military has increasingly adopted non-kinetic approaches alongside conventional force, including dialogue, community engagement, and provision of support during disasters such as flooding in the South-South region.
Fiboinumama urged community leaders to take responsibility for identifying criminal elements within their domains and to work closely with security agencies to reduce crime to the barest minimum.
Speaking on behalf of the Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council, the Paramount Ruler of Port Harcourt, Eze Uche Elikwu, commended the Nigerian Army for its community-focused security strategy and pledged the council’s continued support in tackling criminality across the state.
The engagement forum forms part of the Nigerian Army’s ongoing efforts to strengthen trust, improve intelligence sharing, and promote collaborative security measures between the military and civilian communities.
