Retired Major General John Enenche has called for stronger intelligence gathering and early intervention to curb the spread of terrorism across Nigeria, arguing that decisive action in the North-East could have prevented insurgents from expanding into other parts of the country.
Speaking in an interview aired on Channels Television on July 12, 2026, the former military spokesperson said, “If they were detected and eliminated from the North-East, we wouldn’t have them spreading all over the whole country.”
Enenche stressed that early detection is critical to stopping the expansion of terrorist and bandit networks, urging authorities to deploy advanced technology to monitor vulnerable rural communities more effectively.
He also said the movement of armed groups into new areas has complicated counter-insurgency operations and placed greater demands on security forces. According to him, stronger collaboration with local communities is essential for obtaining timely intelligence needed to neutralise threats before they escalate.
The retired general further urged the Commander-in-Chief to approve advanced technological tools, including Project Gideon, to improve intelligence gathering and reduce response times during security emergencies.
