Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), has called on participants of Senior Course 47 at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), Jaji, to ensure their study tour reports offer practical and implementable solutions to Nigeria’s security challenges.
Ibas gave the charge on Monday during a courtesy visit by the participants to the Government House in Port Harcourt. He was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Ibibia Worika.
In a statement issued by his media aide, Hector Igbikiowubo, Ibas stressed the importance of the tour, especially in light of the rising security threats facing Rivers State and the country at large.
He emphasized the critical role of grassroots intelligence in combating insecurity, warning that without credible feedback mechanisms, internal security efforts would remain ineffective.
“It is troubling that those who provide the human capital fueling insecurity—both in urban and remote areas—often emerge from our rural communities,” Ibas said. “Therefore, any effort aimed at collecting grassroots intelligence is essential. Internal security without such feedback will be an illusion.”
He encouraged the visiting officers to ensure that their engagements with local security agencies and other stakeholders go beyond academic documentation and contribute directly to strengthening operational strategies.
Ibas expressed hope that the tour would yield insights useful not only for academic purposes but also for shaping security policies that would make Rivers State safer and more stable.
Speaking earlier, the team leader and Director of Logistics at AFCSC Jaji, Commodore S.O. Abdularaheen, said the visit was part of a national study tour involving nine teams dispatched to various states across Nigeria.
He said this year’s theme, “Harnessing Grassroots Intelligence for Enhanced Internal Security,” focuses on exploring the role of local communities in strengthening national security frameworks.
Abdularaheen noted that findings from the tour would be compiled into a research paper for presentation at the college, with actionable recommendations expected to guide relevant government agencies.
The visit reflects Rivers State’s commitment to collaborating with security institutions to find sustainable, community-based approaches to addressing insecurity and fostering peace and development.
