Yola – The Army said that creation of special intelligence cells and technical forensic laboratory are recent innovations that have improved its operational capacity in curbing threats to national security.

The Director, Military Intelligence (DMI), Maj.-Gen. Abubakar Tarfa disclosed this yesterday at the commencement of a four-day training for commanders of Combat Support Arms in Yola.

The commanders are drawn from the Artillery, Engineers, Signals and Intelligence corps.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the Intelligence Corps was upgraded as part of the Combat Support Arms in 2012, making it the youngest corps in that category.

According to the DMI, other innovation that have aided in curbing national threats are the establishment of the Lt.-Col. Abu Ali Shooting Range in Sambisa forest, Special Forces Training School in Buni Yadi, and 168 Motor Cycle Battalion.

He described those innovations as “efficacious’’, which had helped in curtailing the Boko Haram insurgency, menace of herdsmen and cattle rustlers, among other threats.

“The Special Intelligence Cells were created in response to the peculiarities of intelligence collection in an asymmetry setting,’’ Tarfa said.

He explained that the technical forensic laboratory was to improve the technical intelligence acquisition and analysis of the army intelligence corps.

He said the training would provide the combat support arms the platform to showcase their state of combat readiness, as well as to review operational strategies to better support the main arms in ongoing and future military operations.

“It is furtherance of this tradition and in realisation of challenges that the theme of COSAT 2017, “Improving Combat Support Synergy as a Force Multiplier in Counter Insurgency Operations is approved by the Chief of Army Staff.

“The theme underscores the need for improved synergy amongst the combat support arms to ensure the final physical and psychological defeat of Boko Haram in the ongoing counter-terrorism and future military operations,” Tarfa said.

The DMI said apart from discussions and lectures, there would be simulation of “how synergy among combat support arms could positively influence information management, target selection and acquisition, common operational feature, as well as prompt decisive action in furtherance of military operations.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, said the outcome of the training would bring a new impetus to improving professionalism among the combat support arms in the army.

Buratai also said that it would help to enhance expected synergy of the arms in delivering the required support to the army in meeting with its constitutional responsibilities.

Governor Muhammad Jibrilla, Adamawa governor commended the military for the relative peace being enjoyed in the North east, particularly in the state.