Understanding local languages by troops will enhance operations – Army

The Chief of Administration (Army), Maj.-Gen. Okpe Ali, says the understanding of the major indigenous languages by the troops of the Nigerian Army will enhance their operations.

Ali said this during the inauguration of the Indigenous Languages Course 12/2023 organised by the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC) on Thursday in Abuja.

He said the military’s objective in the human domain was the ability to influence targeted individuals and groups better than the adversary.

Languages, according to him, are seen as the best mirrors of the human mind, which in turn determine action and events.

“Consequently, a key requirement for success in the human domain operation is the ability to communicate with the local population which hinges on mastery of indigenous languages within the operating environment,” he said.

A key requirement for success in the human domain operation is the ability to communicate with the local population

The Director General of NARC, retired Maj.-Gen. Garba Wahab, said understanding of local languages by troops was essential to achieving success in the ongoing internal security operations across the country.

Wahab said the deployment of the military in nearly all the states of the federation had made it imperative for army personnel to be able to communicate in local languages rather than English.

They feel this is one of us and that is the essence

According to him, there are some words we find very difficult to translate, so when you understand each other, it is easier to deal with locals and people from particular areas and speak their language.

“They feel this is one of us and that is the essence.

“I believe that if you can speak my language I can understand you, and misunderstanding is reduced to great extent,” he said.

Wahab said the centre was planning to expand the course to other local languages other than the three major Nigerian languages. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)