The Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigerian Army have resolved to strengthen intelligence sharing and operational collaboration as part of renewed efforts to dismantle terrorist and bandit networks operating across Nigeria’s North-West region.

The commitment emerged at a high-level regional security conference held in Katsina, where security chiefs, military commanders and intelligence experts warned that criminal groups were taking advantage of weak coordination among security agencies to sustain attacks and evade security operations.

The conference, organised under the theme “Unite Against Terror,” brought together State Directors of Security from across the North-West, senior military officers, heads of security agencies, traditional rulers, community security groups and retired intelligence professionals to review the region’s security challenges and chart a common response strategy.

Speaking at the gathering, Commander of the 17 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Brig.-Gen. Ishaya Ibrahim, said terrorists and bandits had continued to exploit loopholes within the security framework, particularly gaps in intelligence gathering, information exchange and inter-agency cooperation.

According to him, criminal elements operate without regard for state boundaries, moving freely across communities and jurisdictions whenever they detect weaknesses in security deployments.

He noted that the effectiveness of military operations largely depends on timely and credible intelligence, stressing that information supplied by the DSS remains vital in tracking criminal movements, identifying threats and carrying out precision operations.

“The enemy thrives whenever there is a disconnect among security agencies. Terrorists and bandits exploit gaps in information, coordination and trust. To defeat them, we must work as one united force,” he said.

Ibrahim emphasised that intelligence products generated through surveillance, threat assessments, community informants and human intelligence networks have become indispensable in confronting the evolving tactics of armed groups.

He therefore called for stronger collaboration among security institutions, warning that operating in isolation only creates opportunities for criminal groups to exploit institutional weaknesses.

Also speaking, Katsina State Director of Security, Alhassan Iliyasu, said the conference was convened to critically assess the security realities confronting the North-West and develop practical solutions capable of improving ongoing counter-terrorism and anti-banditry efforts.

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He said the theme of the conference reflected the growing need for a collective approach involving government institutions, security agencies and local communities.

According to him, lasting success against terrorism and banditry cannot be achieved through security operations alone, but requires active public participation through the provision of timely and reliable intelligence.

Iliyasu commended the level of cooperation currently existing among security agencies in Katsina State, noting that the synergy had contributed significantly to recent gains recorded in maintaining peace and stability across several communities.

Representing Governor Dikko Umaru Radda, who is also Chairman of the North-West Governors’ Forum, Deputy Governor Malam Faruk Lawal Jobe said insecurity in the region must be tackled through a combination of military action and socio-economic interventions.

He explained that while security operations remain critical, addressing poverty, unemployment, poor access to education and other drivers of vulnerability is equally important in reducing the influence of criminal groups.

Jobe highlighted several initiatives undertaken by the Katsina State Government, including investments in agriculture, education, healthcare, youth empowerment and support programmes for communities affected by banditry.

He further urged security agencies to maintain stronger engagement with local communities, describing residents as a crucial source of intelligence in identifying criminal hideouts and suspicious activities.

The conference is expected to conclude with a communiqué outlining concrete recommendations on intelligence sharing, joint security operations, community participation and coordinated regional responses aimed at weakening terrorist and bandit networks across the North-West.

Security stakeholders expressed optimism that enhanced collaboration among agencies and communities would help close existing operational gaps and strengthen the region’s capacity to confront emerging security threats.