NSA Office Carries Out Counter Terrorism Test To Tackle Insurgency

In its bid to tackle the new strategy adopted by Boko Haram insurgents to attack soft targets, the Office of the National Security Adviser on Tuesday carried out a simulation exercise on counter-terrorism in Abuja.

The International Conference Centre, Abuja is being used as the soft target.

The exercise, which is aimed at testing the validity of the country’s crisis response, was developed by the ONSA.Announcing this at a news conference to flag off a simulation exercise in Abuja, the Deputy Director, Presidential Communication, Command and Control Centre in the Office of the NSA, Shehu Saidu, said the exercise is code named: “Daukin Gagawa,” meaning Rapid Response.

It is the simulation of a terrorist attack on soft target using pyrotechnic Improvised Explosive Devices and blank ammunition to measure the swift response by all the agencies involved in crisis management and counter-terrorism.

Saidu spoke further: “You will recall that this is the new trend of terrorism worldwide.“You saw it in France, Ouagadougou, Bamako and numerous other incidents in Nigeria by the Boko Haram terrorists.“It is in this light that this exercise is organized by the Office of the National Security Adviser in order to practice the synergy of effort between all the security agencies and the cooperation therein expected of them during such crisis.”

Saidu said stakeholders would evaluate the efficiency of the doctrine for amendment or retooling at the end of the simulation exercise.

Saidu, therefore, urged members of the public not to panic, saying it is designed for their protection and safety.

Participating agencies are the Army, Navy, Air Force, Nigeria Police Force, Immigration Service, Nigerian Customs Service, Federal Ministry of Health, National Emergency Management Agency, National Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Fire Service, and all other respondents