Major General Garba Laka assumed office as Director of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) in April 2024, bringing with him an intimidating resume and experience. Expectations were high as many heralded his deployment, having served as the Special Adviser to the National Security Adviser on Inter-Agency Operations, Commanding Officer of 202 Bn in Bama, and later commanding a Brigade as a Colonel, a position typically held by Brigadier Generals.

About seven months after, his performances are seriously being put on a scale to ascertain the extent to which the battle against terrorism has fared and whether the NCTC is indeed leading the charge. His mission is clear: to enhance coordination among Nigeria’s security agencies and build collaborative efforts with international partners to combat the threat of terrorism.

His time in office so far has been marked by significant progress, as he revealed in this exclusive chat with Evelyn Usman

Excerpts: 

Scope of the NCTC’s Work

The NCTC, a nerve center of Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts, oversees everything from intelligence gathering and legal action against terrorists to the control of dangerous substances like explosives.

According to the Director, a major achievement early in his tenure was the Strategic Defence Partnership with the United Kingdom, aimed at strengthening security cooperation. Additionally, the center hosted a high-level African Counterterrorism Meeting that brought together 32 African nations and various international partners.

The objective is to find African solutions to African problems, especially in light of the growing presence of terrorist organizations such as Al-Qaeda and Daish in ungoverned spaces across Africa. “We are seeing an influx of terrorists moving down into coastal West Africa. Countries like Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali have recently experienced major attacks, and we cannot let this spread further,” he said.

The Abuja Declaration, resulting from the conference, made a key recommendation to elevate the NCTC into a Regional Centre of Excellence for West Africa and the Sahel, focusing not just on combat but on preventive strategies against terrorism.

Leveraging existing capabilities

On his arrival, the director found several departments in the NCTC underutilized. A major priority has been to activate these capabilities, including the Department of Intelligence, which collates and analyzes information from various security agencies.

Commenting on that, he said “We have a department that specifically focuses on preventing and countering violent extremism, and another that controls the movement of explosives and chemicals across the country. This is critical as certain chemicals, like urea, are used in the manufacture of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs),”

Furthermore, the NCTC is actively involved in prosecuting terrorist financiers, while ensuring that individuals wrongly detained are given a second chance at life through reintegration programs. The center’s Legal Department, in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice, has overseen six phases of trials, leading to over 500 convictions, as gathered. 

Building advanced forensic capabilities

 Perhaps one of the most significant upgrades the director is overseeing is the revival of the NCTC’s dormant forensic laboratories, which include toxicology, fingerprint, DNA, handwriting analysis, and explosives labs—all vital in investigating terrorist activities.

 He noted, “These labs were dormant, but we are working closely with international partners, especially the U.S., to ensure they are functional.

The DNA database as noted, is expected to help identify both victims and perpetrators, including children born to captured women during the Boko Haram insurgency.

 Maj. Gen. Laka said, “There are children born out of terrorism who may not know their fathers. A DNA database could help trace these family connections.”

Tackling Terrorism Financing

 One of the most persistent problems in combating terrorism is the financial backing that supports these groups. Nigeria is currently on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Grey List, signaling concerns about the country’s efforts to curb money laundering and terrorism financing . 

However, Laka revealed that  the creation of a multi-agency Task Force dedicated to investigating these financial networks was being spearheaded. 

To achieve this, he said:”We are working with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), and international partners like the FBI to investigate and prosecute those who fund terrorism.” This collaboration has led to dozens of convictions, with efforts ongoing to remove Nigeria from the FATF Grey List.

Centralized Database Vision

:One of the Director’s most ambitious goals is to create a national database that integrates biometric and criminal records from across Nigeria’s security agencies. While the National Cybercrime Centre has developed a base system, the NCTC according tro him, aims to deepen its database to include DNA and facial recognition data. 

He said:”We plan to visit all detention facilities and police stations to gather data on known criminals and build a comprehensive record system.This database will also be instrumental in tackling other forms of organized crime, such as kidnapping. By leveraging phone data, even ransom demands could be traced back to the perpetrators through the database”.

Place of Experience

Having  spent time as a Brigade Commander in Bama, one of the epicenters of the Boko Haram insurgency, in Borno State, which has shaped his approach at the NCTC, Major. Gen Laka’s first-hand experience dealing with displaced persons, collaborating with the state government, and coordinating with international partners has proven invaluable.

 “In my current role, I bring those lessons—how to work with various stakeholders to ensure the right humanitarian and security responses,” he said.

Addressing Public Perception of Deradicalization

 One of the most controversial aspects of Nigeria’s counterterrorism strategy has been the deradicalization and reintegration of former Boko Haram members. This is becauss of fears expressed by the public  on whether these ex-insurgents are truly deradicalized, with concerns about some becoming informants. 

But these fears were allayed as  the Director NCTC was quick to defend the program, noting that many of these individuals did not join Boko Haram of their own free will.

Besides, he informed that”We follow international conventions, and those who surrender are entitled to be rehabilitated. The success rate of reintegration is higher than the failures, and we monitor their progress closely”

Impact of regional instability 

West Africa is currently experiencing political upheaval, with recent coups in Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali , raising  concerns about regional security, particularly with international forces like France pulling out.

 While these countries’ internal issues are their own, the instability affects Nigeria, particularly as it shares a border with Niger. 

The director acknowledged this position, saying, “We have a long border with Niger, and anything that happens there affects us. But we’re working with ECOWAS to stabilize the region” . 

Media role in counter terrorism

Media plays a crucial role in counter-terrorism, as it can influence public perception and government efforts. Responsible reporting according to him,  can either perpetuate or combat terrorism. 

He therefore,  emphasized the importance of working closely with the media to ensure accurate reporting, noting that the spread of misinformation and disinformation posed a significant challenge in the fight against terrorism. To address this, he said, “We’ve held workshops with both security correspondents and news editors to strengthen their understanding of the situation. If we don’t tell our story first, the terrorists will.”

Influx of small arms

Controlling the influx of small arms is also crucial. Sadly Nigeria’s porous borders have long allowed the influx of small arms and light weapons, which fuel both terrorism and banditry. 

The NCTC according to Maj. Gen. Laka, was working closely with agencies like the Nigerian Customs Service, Immigration, and the Police to intercept these weapons. We also maintain a database of illegal arms. It’s an ongoing battle, but we’re making strides,” Laka asserted 

 Future of Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts

 Despite the prevailing challenges, Laka remains optimistic that Nigeria is making significant efforts in the counter-terrorism fight. He noted that with increased coordination among security agencies, the revival of the NCTC’s forensic capabilities, and a renewed focus on cutting off terrorism financing, Nigeria is making significant headway. “We’ve made tremendous progress over the past decade. I hope to see a peaceful and secure Nigeria before I retire from service,” he said.

 As Nigeria marches towards lasting peace, its people eagerly anticipate the NCTC’s bold strides under strong leadership to deliver a crushing blow to terrorism and violent extremism, striking at their very core .