In a bid to foster stronger military-community relations and promote sustainable peace and security in the Niger Delta, the Defence Headquarters, Abuja, has launched a Military Diplomacy Campaign in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State. The campaign is an initiative of the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, aimed at building trust, promoting collaboration, and deepening civil-military cooperation for robust security across the region.
The 3-day Military Diplomacy Campaign initiative is being coordinated by the Directorate of Defence Media Operations (DDMO) and led by Brigadier General Mohammed Dahiru Abu-Mawashi. The Defence Headquarters team, which included Defence Correspondents and media personnel, was accompanied to the event by military personnel from 103 Battalion, Operation Delta Safe, led by the Commanding Officer, Lt. Colonel Waheed Rafiu Shittu. Also in attendance were heads of sister security agencies operating within the area.
Brigadier General Dahiru, who conveyed goodwill from the Chief of Defence Staff, appreciated the warm reception by traditional rulers, youth and women groups, and community stakeholders. He emphasized that the campaign is not about military enforcement but about fostering long-term cooperation through dialogue, trust-building, and joint problem-solving. According to him, security is most effective when driven by local intelligence and broad-based community participation.
He highlighted ongoing challenges such as crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism, and environmental degradation, noted that Nigeria recorded a loss of over $3 billion to oil-related crimes in 2024 alone. He decried the devastating impacts of oil spills, gas flaring, and industrial waste on the region’s environment and public health, and stressed that both corporate negligence and criminal activities were responsible. He also acknowledged that some rogue elements within security agencies had compromised their duties and assured the public that the military was actively rooting them out.
Brigadier General Dahiru urged community members to see themselves as stakeholders in national security and to act as the “eyes and ears of the nation,” stressed that intelligence gathering and cooperation are critical to long-term peace and safety.
During the interactive session, traditional rulers, youth and women groups, and other community leaders welcomed the initiative, called for greater youth engagement and reform within security agencies. A prominent traditional chief emphasized the need to reorient young people to prevent them from being recruited into criminal activities and asked how the military could help identify compromised security personnel aiding oil theft.
In his response, Brigadier General Dahiru underscored the importance of community-led intelligence and committed to strengthening communication channels between locals and the military. He stated that his knowledge of the Niger Delta’s complex terrain and resilient communities would guide a more inclusive and realistic security approach going forward.
Discussions also focused on rebuilding traditional authority and addressing capacity gaps in governance. Brigadier General Dahiru recalled how traditional rulers once played key roles in governance before the 1976 reforms eroded their influence. He called for a revival of that legacy and urged greater collaboration with local governments to scale empowerment initiatives, particularly for women and youths.
In his closing remarks, High Chief Precious Agbani, a respected traditional leader, lauded the Defence Headquarters for what he described as an honest and purposeful outreach to the people of the Niger Delta. He said the military’s presence, sincerity, and willingness to listen had set a new tone for engagement.
“Politicians and civil society have come here in the past with promises, but they left us with disappointment. This military engagement feels different it’s honest, deliberate, and responsive,” he said. “Let this not be another talk-shop. Let it be the beginning of transformation for our people.”
The campaign underscored the Defence Headquarters’ commitment to inclusive security, environmental accountability, and a new era of civil-military partnership in the Niger Delta.
