Intelligence Gathering Research Articles

NIGERIA’S SECURITY DYNAMICS AND THE FIGHT AGAINST CRIME

This review paper delves into the 'security dynamics in Nigeria, and the fight against crime', elucidating the current state of criminal activities in Nigeria, which have reached unprecedented levels, particularly with the emergence of social media and other sophisticated technological tools. Nevertheless, the paper aims to leverage these advanced technological resources for intelligence gathering to combat crime effectively. It correlates the nature of criminal activities and their evolution with the intergenerational differences present in our society today, highlighting how these differences have also impacted the capabilities of law enforcement agencies in addressing crime in Nigeria. The recommendations put forth in this paper emphasize the significance of inter-agency cooperation, advocating for the integration of advanced intelligence-gathering mechanisms into the operational frameworks of security agencies to expedite crime prevention. Additionally, the discussion on recommendations entails investing in community policing, enhancing security protocols, and enacting reforms, among other proposals.

INTELLIGENCE GATHERING AND ITS CONTRIBUTION TO NIGERIA'S NATIONAL SECURITY: A CRITICAL ASSESSMENT

The Nigerian intelligence sector faces institutional limitations that hinder the successful implementation of intelligence collecting, which is widely acknowledged as a crucial tool in tackling these issues. This paper provides a thorough evaluation of the function of intelligence gathering within Nigeria's national security framework, analysing its effectiveness in dealing with current security challenges. This study seeks to offer a thorough examination of the intelligence cycle in the Nigerian setting, including the gathering, analysis, and use of intelligence in national security strategy. The research used a mixed-methods methodology, combining quantitative data obtained from a questionnaire with qualitative insights obtained from an empirical literature analysis. The Network Theory (TNT) functions as the conceptual framework, providing a perspective to examine the intricate connections and transmission of information within the intelligence network. Statistical analysis is conducted on the questionnaire results using descriptive and inferential methods, while the findings of the literature review are consolidated to offer context and depth. The study results highlight a significant dependence on Human Intelligence (HUMINT) and source intelligence (OSINT) in Nigeria, with a lack of implementation of Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT) and a disregard for Measurement and Signature Intelligence (MASINT). Furthermore, the investigation exposes inadequate levels of trust and collaboration between intelligence agencies and other security organizations. The major obstacles mentioned are insufficient financial resources, insufficient training and knowledge, technical constraints, competition among different agencies, and legal and bureaucratic restrictions. The research findings indicate that although intelligence gathering is of utmost importance for Nigeria's national security, its efficacy is hindered by structural and operational obstacles. personnel growth and comprehensive strategy to improve intelligence capabilities, which involves bolstering inter- agency collaboration, allocating resources to technical progress and skilled personnel growth, and creating a strong legal and ethical structure.

DRONES IN WARFARE: NIGERIA'S ADOPTION OF TECHNOLOGY IN FIGHTING INSECURITY

Rapid technological advancements have driven the increasing complexity of warfare, positioning unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or drones, at the forefront of military operations globally. This study examines Nigeria's adoption of drone technology in its fight against insurgencies, banditry, and communal violence. As part of its evolving security strategy, Nigeria has integrated drones into its military operations to enhance intelligence gathering, surveillance, and precision strikes. Despite the operational benefits, the use of drones raises ethical concerns, especially related to civilian casualties, and poses challenges due to limited transparency and regulatory oversight. The study employed a systematic literature review (SLR), drawing on secondary data sources and reports that address the role, effectiveness, and challenges of drones in Nigeria's defense strategies. Key findings highlight that Nigeria's military, particularly the Air Force, has successfully deployed both indigenous and foreign-acquired drones, such as the Amebo, Gulma, and Chinese CH-4, to bolster its intelligence and combat operations. However, the lack of a robust legal framework and the need for improved training and data processing infrastructure hinder the full realization of drone technology's potential. Based on the findings, the study recommends enhancing Nigeria's regulatory framework to ensure ethical drone deployment, investing in indigenous UAV development, and improving inter-agency coordination for more efficient use of drone capabilities. These steps are crucial to ensuring that drones can effectively contribute to Nigeria's national security while minimizing the associated risks.

Harnessing big data for national security: A review of information systems and emerging technologies in the U.S

The rapid growth of big data and emerging technologies has fundamentally transformed the national security landscape, enabling governments to leverage vast amounts of information for decision-making, threat detection, and operational effectiveness. This review explores the integration of big data analytics into U.S. national security systems, focusing on the technological innovations that facilitate real-time data processing, secure communications, and predictive analytics. Key emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and the Internet of Things, are evaluated for their role in enhancing intelligence gathering, cybersecurity, and surveillance operations. Furthermore, the paper examines the foundational principles of big data in national security, detailing its data sources, types, and uses in both structured and unstructured forms. While these advancements present significant opportunities, they also pose challenges related to privacy, ethics, policy, and legal frameworks, which are critical for ensuring that the implementation of such technologies aligns with democratic values and security objectives. The paper concludes by highlighting future research directions, emphasizing the need for continued development in big data infrastructure, governance, and ethical considerations to fully harness its potential in protecting national interests.

Coordinated Multi-Agencies Patrols and Border Security along the Kenya-Somalia Border in Wajir County

Securing their boarders has become a concern for all countries globally. This is because unsecure boarders pose a serious threat both to national and international security of states. For instance, the porous Kenya-Somali boarder continues to pose a serious threat to the security and development of Kenya as a country. This study therefore sought to examine how coordinated multi-agencies patrols affects border security along the Kenya-Somalia border. It adopted a descriptive survey research design that used both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Stratified and simple random and purposive sampling techniques were used to collect data for the study. The tools utilized to get data were, questionnaires and interview schedule. Both qualitative and quantitative data were triangulated to provide robust illustrations of the key findings. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and presented as percentages, pie charts, and bar graphs. Qualitative data on the other hand was analyzed thematically and presented as quoted verbatim. The study found that joint coordinated patrols, joint intelligence gathering, sharing and analysis and sharing of resources among the various multi-agency teams played a crucial role in border security management. The study concluded that, the Kenya Police Service, the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF), and local administrative bodies have made significant stride in enhancing boarder security along Kenya-Somali boarder in Wajir County. The study recommended that, as far as the issue of joint multi-agency patrols are concerned, there is need to increase human resource and provide the necessary gears for effective multi-agency patrols. For further research, the study had restricted itself to the multi-agency’s cooperation and border security along the Kenya-Somalia border in Wajir County. However, a number of similarities in the multi-agencies’ cooperation was noticed, mostly through literatures. It would be prudent, to stretch out this research to other regions, to determine the applicability of these findings for the whole of the country Kenya.

Intelligence Gathering and Policy Formulation for Addressing Security Threats in Nigeria

Intelligence has been discussed by many scholars across the globe. But no doubt, there is no universal acceptable definition of intelligence. It is germane to explicate intelligence as the result of information that has been collated, evaluated and interpreted. More so, intelligence is the information that have been processed and originated to be truth and accurate about an object, subject, or group of people. Without accurate and timely intelligence there would not be a functional government or sustainable nationhood. This paper focuses on how government could improve on policy formulations through prompt and accurate intelligence from intelligence community (IC) to frustrate, submerge the activities of hostile intelligence service (HIS) cum local perpetrators of crime. The population of the study comprised of the Nigeria Intelligence Community (IC) which are Department of State Services (DSS), Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) and National Intelligence Agency (NIA). The sample technique adopted was purposive sampling considering the experiences and knowledge of the participants involved in the study, the data collection were both primary and secondary. The primary data was anchored on qualitative research method (in-depth interviews). While the secondary data was relied on textbooks, journals, theses, internet sources, et cetera. The study was affixed on triarchic theory of intelligence to explored the relationship between the policy makers and intelligence community to produce a better policy for the masses. The study comes to conclusion that timely and accurate intelligence must be gathered by the IC and promptly utilized by the PM to form a policy that will curtail any security threats. The study was conducted in Abuja being the Federal Capital Territory, epicentre of intelligence community and seat of power.

The Future of Cyber Threat Intelligence: Anticipating and Preparing for Evolving Threats

Modern cybersecurity protocols face unprecedented hurdles from the dynamic cyber threat ecology. In this context, the value of cyber threat intelligence as a prophylactic protective strategy increase (Abu, Selamat, Ariffin , & Yusof, 2018). This study provides a futuristic analysis of cyber threat intelligence, emphasizing the vital role that it will play in anticipating and becoming ready for evolving threats. This article also looks at threat actor methods, attack paths, and emerging technologies in an attempt to illustrate the dynamic nature of cyber threats and the need for adaptive intelligence solutions (Abu, Selamat, Ariffin , & Yusof, 2018). Ethical and legal considerations are also explored to highlight the necessity for a thorough and responsible approach to the gathering and implementation of cyber threat intelligence (Wagner, 2019). Through this thorough examination, readers will get a substantial comprehension of the technical developments and strategic requirements that will impact how cyber threat intelligence is developed (Abu, Selamat, Ariffin , & Yusof, 2018) (Wagner, 2019). This will provide enterprises with the agility and resilience to predict, mitigate, and respond to future cyber-attacks.

COMPUTER VISION METHODS FOR CONDUCTING OSINT INVESTIGATIONS

This paper researches the application of computer vision techniques in concern with OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) investigations. It explores how state-ofthe- art algorithms and models in computer vision can be used to automate and enhance the process of gathering, analyzing, and interpreting visual data from open sources. The research focuses on the critical steps of image scraping, data preprocessing, and embedding generation using advanced deep learning models such as CLIP. Additionally, the study examines the challenges of managing large-scale visual data and implementing efficient search mechanisms through vector databases like Faiss and Weaviate. By applying these technologies, the paper illustrates how investigators can improve the accuracy and efficiency of imagebased searches, which are later used for uncovering hidden connections and verifying information in OSINT investigations. The findings contribute to the growing field of computer vision and intelligence gathering, offering practical recommendations for enhancing investigative processes through the integration of computer vision methodologies.

Evaluation of Public Sector Corruption and Organized Crimes as Impediments to Nigeria’s Economic Growth

This research work on the evaluation of public sector corruption and organized crime as an impediment to Nigeria’s economic growth attempts to examine the link between crime and growth based on the theory of rational choice and empirical data.the major objective of this research is to evaluate the extent to which public sector corruption and organized crime impacted on economic growth in Nigeria. The Dynamic Endogenous Growth model is adopted to analyse the data collected as the study sought to cast further light on the macroeconomic implications of organized crime and its interaction with corruption. The study concludes that to eradicate organized crime and corruption in Nigeria, effort should be geared towards a fool-proof, digitized intelligence gathering on identifying the roots causes and a way to nip them in the bud. All leakages in the public sector also need to be blocked to curtail loopholes for corruption to thrive It is recommended that prosecution be forcefully pursued through the enactment of an accountability legislation for public office holders and the enhancement of police and court system skills through sufficient funding.Furthermore, the government ought to take action to promote a more productive economy, which would lower unemployment and serve as a deterrent to crime.

The Impact of Intelligence Gathering, Risk Analysis, and Scenario Planning on Defense Policy Formulation

In the evolving landscape of global security, the integration of intelligence gathering, risk analysis, and scenario planning is paramount for effective defense policy formulation. This study aims to underscore the critical role of these elements in contemporary defense strategies. Employing qualitative research methods, particularly secondary data analysis, this research investigates the transformative impact of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) on threat assessments, the benefits and challenges of big data analytics in risk analysis, and the value of interdisciplinary perspectives in scenario planning. The findings reveal that AI and ML significantly enhance the accuracy and reliability of threat assessments by enabling real-time data processing and predictive analytics. However, challenges such as data privacy and algorithmic biases persist. Big data analytics offers substantial benefits in identifying and mitigating emerging threats but requires robust data management frameworks to address issues of data quality and integration. Additionally, scenario planning is highlighted as a strategic tool that enhances defense strategies by anticipating various future scenarios and enabling proactive measures. Furthermore, the integration of interdisciplinary perspectives in scenario planning fosters more robust and adaptable defense policies, ensuring a comprehensive approach to security challenges. In conclusion, the integration of advanced technologies and interdisciplinary methods in intelligence gathering, risk analysis, and scenario planning is crucial for developing resilient and adaptive defense policies.

Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf? How corporations maintain hegemony by using counterinsurgency tactics to undermine activism

This article contributes to critical theory building in relation to political corporate social responsibility (PCSR) by conceptualizing the underlying processes and practices through which corporations seek to counter threats posed by activist groups. We argue that the problematic nature of PCSR is entangled not only in its state-like aims, but also in its covert deployment of military tactics towards the maintenance of corporate hegemony. We illuminate how corporations use counterinsurgency tactics to undermine the ability of activists to hold them accountable for their wrongdoing. Building on the work of Gramsci, we propose that counterinsurgency tactics combine elements of force and persuasion that enable corporations to maintain hegemony (i.e., secure consent over time). We ask: How are counterinsurgency tactics used by corporations to neutralize activist pressures and maintain corporate hegemony? We draw upon historical sources regarding the Nestlé infant milk boycott case to undertake a genealogical analysis that exposes counterinsurgency tactics enabling corporations to counter activists and sustain their hegemony. We find that Nestlé deployed four key counterinsurgency tactics to nullify activist pressures (suppressing external support, isolating the activist(s), capturing the dialogue, and covert intelligence gathering). From our analysis, we propose the term corporate counterinsurgency and theorize the historic use of corporate counterinsurgency tactics as an example of a hegemonic strategy that enables corporations to covertly undermine activist pressures. We conclude by calling for further reflexivity in organizational studies research on the military origins of PCSR, and by outlining how activist organizations might mobilize against corporate counterinsurgency tactics.

Placing "Rights and Liberties In Pawn Until The Defeat of Hitlerism": Canadian Intelligence Gathering In The Second World War

Williams examines RCMP intelligence Bulletins drafted during World War Two that have been declassified under the Access to Information Act. Williams’ Analysis of the Bulletins suggests that the Canadian intelligence gathering apparatus underwent a massive expansion during the war. The RCMP began investigating people and organizations based upon their race, religion, political affiliation or nationalist beliefs. Ultimately, Williams suggests that contemporary tactics mobilized against perceived terrorist threats parallel tactics used during the Second World War

The Historical Roots of Air Intelligence (AIRINT): Terminology Development Attempt

Air intelligence began in the early days of aviation when militaries realized the strategic value of adversary air capacity data. Pioneering aerial reconnaissance and intelligence gathering during World War I established air intelligence as a unique field. This article describes air intelligence’s history, essential components, obstacles, and future directions. Examination of air surveillance systems, intelligence in military operations, and tradeoffs has provided vital insights into this critical field and a new term, AIRINT, is introduced.

Legal basis for the use of covert means

Aim: The use of covert means is any information gathering intelligence operation (secret police activity) in which the authorised authorities of the State seek to obtain new knowledge in the course of administrative and criminal proceedings without the knowledge of the holder of the information, by limiting the right of self-determination. In dictatorships, this form of exercise of state power is also dominated by arbitrariness. Constitutional states place the use of secret means on a public law basis. This study aims to demonstrate that it is possible to regulate acts of public authority that are at the heart of secrecy by means of legal instruments whose core is publicity. Methodology: The objective outlined above can only be achieved if the dogmatic and moral characteristics of the legislation are harmonised with the specific characteristics of the secret police. The task is not easy. Legislation is always about the future and is always based on abstract prognosis; covert intelligence aims to discover the past, the present and the future, and the knowledge to be acquired is always unique and concrete. Finidings: The abstract nature of the regulation and the uniqueness of the intelligence operation resolve the contradiction between publicity and secrecy. What is public is the rule, what is secret is the application of the rule to a specific situation. However, legislation can become fully formalised when it no longer imposes limits on the operation of state power, but merely authorises it, opening the way to free discretion. In such a case, the guise of legality conceals an untrammelled power. Value: Law that serves humanity is an effective means of preserving social order. Secret data-collection requires a limitation of rights, yet it is indispensable to combat violations (principle of necessity), provided that it does not cause more serious harm than the threat against which it is used (principle of proportionality).

Legal basis for the use of covert means

Aim: The use of covert means is any information gathering intelligence operation (secret police activity) in which the authorised authorities of the State seek to obtain new knowledge in the course of administrative and criminal proceedings without the knowledge of the holder of the information, by limiting the right of self-determination. In dictatorships, this form of exercise of state power is also dominated by arbitrariness. Constitutional states place the use of secret means on a public law basis. This study aims to demonstrate that it is possible to regulate acts of public authority that are at the heart of secrecy by means of legal instruments whose core is publicity. Methodology: The objective outlined above can only be achieved if the dogmatic and moral characteristics of the legislation are harmonised with the specific characteristics of the secret police. The task is not easy. Legislation is always about the future and is always based on abstract prognosis; covert intelligence aims to discover the past, the present and the future, and the knowledge to be acquired is always unique and concrete. Finidings: The abstract nature of the regulation and the uniqueness of the intelligence operation resolve the contradiction between publicity and secrecy. What is public is the rule, what is secret is the application of the rule to a specific situation. However, legislation can become fully formalised when it no longer imposes limits on the operation of state power, but merely authorises it, opening the way to free discretion. In such a case, the guise of legality conceals an untrammelled power. Value: Law that serves humanity is an effective means of preserving social order. Secret data-collection requires a limitation of rights, yet it is indispensable to combat violations (principle of necessity), provided that it does not cause more serious harm than the threat against which it is used (principle of proportionality).

Supply and Demand: Drivers of Women Non-Combat Participation in Rebel Groups

Including women into their ranks offers non-state armed groups advantages in terms of mobilisation, intelligence gathering, and establishing ties with civilians. However, especially in conservative societies, this inclusion of could also cause backlash from group members and supporters. While several previous studies analyse why rebels choose to recruit female combatants, limited attention has been paid to women in non-combat roles. I address this gap by studying the drivers of women’s inclusion into rebel groups as non-fighting members, hence contributing to wider efforts to bring gender-sensitive approaches to research on security and violence. Specifically, I conduct a qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) of 118 groups in the period 1989–2015. The results indicate that a conjunction of supply-side factors (female unemployment, gender inequality) and demand-side factors (leftist ideology, territorial control, military strength) drive female non-combat participation in rebel groups. The causal impact of women’s marginalisation is highly context-dependent: Leftist rebels’ calls for gender equality are appealing to (particularly poor and excluded) women. Yet, rebels with high demand for skilled labour prefer to recruit non-marginalised women that received at least some job training.

Implications of Large Language Models for OSINT: Assessing the Impact on Information Acquisition and Analyst Expertise in Prompt Engineering

This paper explores the potential use of large language models (LLMs) in Open Source Intelligence (OSINT), with a focus on integrating information acquisition and the increasing importance of prompt engineering for analysts. The research includes a comprehensive literature review, which highlights the widespread use of AI in OSINT and the related challenges, such as data validity and ethical concerns. The study emphasizes the significance of prompt engineering as a crucial skill that demands a profound comprehension of LLMs to generate validated intelligence. A model of the OSINT lifecycle that incorporates LLMs is proposed. The paper further discusses updated training in critical thinking, search techniques, and prompt engineering for intelligence professionals. The findings indicate a noteworthy shift in OSINT procedures, highlighting the importance of continuous research and education to fully utilize AI in intelligence gathering.

Women and War: Female Spies and Messengers in the Late-Medieval Low Countries

Abstract: This contribution shows that women played influential roles in medieval warfare not as soldiers on the battlefield but as key figures in communication networks. Two crucial aspects in times of military crisis are gathering information about the enemy and communication between allies. Existing historiography of medieval espionage usually attributes such tasks to men. This article demonstrates, however, that cities systematically used the services of women carrying letters around the front lines and gathering intelligence services about the enemy army. The case study of this article is the war the Flemish cities waged against Emperor Frederick III and his son Maximilian of Austria in 1488–1489, a conflict in which dozens of women as spies and messengers tried to influence the course of the war.

Taking a longer historical view of America’s renaming moment: The role of Black onomastic activism within the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC)

Renaming practices are increasingly deployed as a political technology in USA campaigns to do greater justice to the rights, histories, and identities of historically marginalized groups. African American social actors and groups have been especially active in this onomastic or naming activism. To fully make sense of this renaming moment, which is often popularly misrepresented as brand new, we outline an approach that takes a longer view of the history of Black naming by drawing together ideas from the field of Black geographies, specifically Katherine McKittrick’s ideas about Black livingness, and our work in critical place naming studies. As an illustration, we conduct a study of SNCC and the way civil rights workers and mobilized communities valued names and deployed onomastic tactics—the (re)naming of people, places, and institutions as part of their creative and grass-roots activism. These onomastic tactics facilitated and accompanied SNCC’s gathering of antiracist intelligence, constructing a subaltern transportation system, and carrying out a revolutionary remaking of place and affective atmosphere in the face of oppression. We not only seek to add a needed racial genealogy of ongoing naming struggles in America, but also use SNCC’s onomastic tactics to tell a story of the Civil Rights Movement generally not well understood and to expand what counts as activism and who counts as activists beyond canonized celebrations of the Movement in popular media and education. As an important guide to current naming struggles, the SNCC experience is instructive of the fact that renaming alone cannot count as liberation. Rather, the efficacy of naming as a civil rights practice comes from the assembling and mobilizing of names with the broader capacities of people, material places, and political practices and discourses.

OSINT (OPEN SOURCE INTELLIGENCE) Exploring the Power of Open Source Intelligence in Modern Decision-Making

Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) has emerged as a powerful tool in the information age, offering valuable insights to individuals, organizations, and governments. This paper explores the significance of OSINT in contemporary decision-making processes, highlighting its role in providing timely, relevant, and actionable information from publicly available sources. The first section elucidates the concept of OSINT, delineating its scope, sources, and methodologies. OSINT encompasses a wide array of publicly accessible information, including social media posts, news articles, government reports, and academic publications. Leveraging advanced data mining, web scraping, and analytical techniques, OSINT practitioners sift through this vast trove of data to extract pertinent insights. The subsequent section delves into the multifaceted applications of OSINT across various domains. In the realm of national security, OSINT aids in threat assessment, geopolitical analysis, and monitoring of adversarial activities. Law enforcement agencies utilize OSINT for criminal investigations, intelligence gathering, and identifying emerging trends. Moreover, businesses employ OSINT for competitive intelligence, market research, and brand monitoring, gaining a competitive edge in dynamic markets. The paper also examines the ethical and privacy implications inherent in OSINT practices. While OSINT offers unprecedented access to information, it raises concerns regarding privacy infringement, misinformation propagation, and algorithmic biases. Safeguarding individual privacy rights and ensuring data accuracy are imperative considerations in the ethical utilization of OSINT. Furthermore, the paper discusses the evolving landscape of OSINT technologies and methodologies. Advancements in artificial intelligence, natural language processing, and machine learning have revolutionized OSINT capabilities, enabling automated data collection, sentiment analysis, and predictive modeling. However, these technological advancements also pose challenges in terms of information overload, data veracity, and algorithmic transparency.