By ZAKAA LAZARUS
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) has said that modern battles are no longer won by firepower alone, but by superior information, real-time intelligence, technological dominance and cyber resilience.
The CDS stated this in his goodwill message to the Defence Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DECAN) Conference held in Abuja, where he felicitated with the association on its timely and strategic conference.
He was represented by the Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, the CDS
described the theme of the conference, _”Beyond Kinetic Warfare: Harnessing Technology and Intelligence-Led Operations for Nigeria’s National Security,”_ as apt, noting that it profoundly reflects the evolving character of modern warfare and the direction the Armed Forces of Nigeria is pursuing.
“Today, battles are no longer won by firepower alone. They are won by superior information, real-time intelligence, technological dominance, cyber resilience and the ability to control the narrative space,” he said.
According to him, the Armed Forces of Nigeria is investing in non-kinetic capabilities, ranging from space-based surveillance and geospatial intelligence to Artificial Intelligence-enabled decision support and joint intelligence fusion, to outpace adversaries, protect citizens and secure national interests.
He said the understanding informed the recent drive at the Defence Space Administration, the expansion of modular earth observation outposts into operational theatres, the establishment of the Defence Space School for human capital development and the ongoing integration of AI and advanced surveillance systems across operations.
“We are building an Armed Forces that is not only combat-ready but also intelligence-driven and technology-enabled,” he said.
The CDS, however, expressed concern over the growing menace of AI-generated fake videos, manipulated images, cloned voices and false operational claims being deliberately circulated to mislead the public, incite fear, discredit troops and undermine national security efforts.
He said such deepfakes are not mere misinformation but weapons of psychological warfare aimed at eroding public trust in the Armed Forces and rupturing the bond between the military and the citizenry.
“In today’s information age, security operations are fought not only on the battlefield but also in the information domain. A single AI-generated video can undo months of operational gains, endanger troops and cause panic in communities. This is a shared threat to our national security,” he said.
He described DECAN as a critical partner in confronting the threat, noting that defence correspondents occupy a unique position as gatekeepers, fact-checkers and bridge-builders.
He therefore called on DECAN to uphold truth as a national security imperative by verifying sensitive operational content with the Defence Headquarters before publication.
He also urged the association to partner with the military to expose fake AI messages, lend its professional platforms to educating the public on identifying synthetic media and promptly debunk fake videos attributed to the Armed Forces.
He further charged defence correspondents to champion intelligence-led journalism that moves beyond sensational headlines to informed, technology-aware reporting that strengthens jointness, promotes civil-military trust and counters extremist propaganda.
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria remains resolute in its constitutional duty to defend Nigeria’s sovereignty and democracy. But we cannot succeed alone. The trust, cooperation and synergy between the military and the citizenry, mediated through a responsible press, remain indispensable,” he said.
The CDS commended DECAN for sustaining professionalism, patriotism and partnership in defence reporting and assured the association of Defence Headquarters’ continued support and open-door policy for timely and accurate information sharing.
