ABIODUN KOMOLAFE argues for a change of strategy to battle the criminals
We are all now in peril, and there’s no longer an acceptable definition of where the frontline is. The abduction of dozens of pupils across three schools spanning Ahoro-Esinele, Yawota and Oko communities in Oriire Local Government of Oyo State must not be used to indulge in blame trading. Instead, it should be an opportunity for re-strategising. This is the only way to wage unconventional conflicts, and our methods of training, perception and even public discourse must accept this.
As I have argued elsewhere, a good place to start is with the classic by one of the world’s most renowned practitioners, General Sir Frank Kitson (1926–2024), former Commander-in-Chief, UK Land Forces. First published in 1971, the central theme of Kitson’s book, Low Intensity Operations: Subversion, Insurgency, Peace-keeping, is that a conventional army defending a well-defined sovereign territory must first imbibe the mindset of the guerrilla insurgents, anticipate them, and use their own methods to outwit and outflank them. The book remains a masterpiece that will be sold for decades to come, for, at times, it reads like a psychological thriller – a penetrating analysis of the mindset of the guerrilla fighter and the insurgent.
