- Ex–Police Chief Delivers Strategic Lecture on Negotiation, Conflict Management, and Command Responsibility
Segun Atanda/
Retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police and Directing Staff at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), DIG Adeleye Oyebade, mni, has urged Nigerian security agencies to elevate their approach to leadership by integrating negotiation, conflict management, and emotional intelligence into command strategy.
Delivering a thought-provoking lecture at the Strategy Course for Command Responsibility, Cyber-Security, and Intelligence Management (SCCR 14), Oyebade emphasized that the future of Nigeria’s security architecture depends not only on tactical capability but on leaders who can “think, communicate, and influence as effectively as they can command and control.”
The session was convened at the invitation of the Acting Director of Studies, Barr. N. Salan Mann, mni, as part of NIPSS’ advanced capacity development programme for mid- and senior-level security and intelligence officers.
Oyebade argued that contemporary security challenges, ranging from insurgency and banditry to cybercrime and communal unrest, are rooted in human relationships and grievances rather than brute force.
“Force may silence the gunfire temporarily,” he said, “but dialogue, understanding, and trust sustain peace.”
He explained that effective officers must be skilled negotiators capable of engaging community leaders, local politicians, and even non-state armed actors under pressure, with the goal of preventing escalation while maintaining institutional legitimacy.
Drawing from inter-agency experiences across the armed forces, police, and intelligence services, Oyebade described conflict management as “a critical command responsibility that determines operational success, force protection, and public confidence.”
He cited real-world examples, such as clashes between military and police units in Taraba State and coordination issues in multi-agency operations, to underscore the need for clear command structures, early communication, and institutional respect among security bodies.
“Recognizing mandates, demonstrating professionalism, and applying empathy,” he said, “can turn potential clashes into cooperation.”
Referencing Daniel Goleman’s model of Emotional Intelligence, Oyebade highlighted self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management as essential competencies for modern command.
He noted that emotionally intelligent officers can de-escalate tense encounters, interpret unspoken motivations, and maintain composure in crises.
“An officer who can not manage his emotions can not manage a team,” he said.
In the cyber and intelligence domains, he added that emotional intelligence enables collaboration across agencies such as the DSS, NITDA, and ONSA, especially when managing sensitive data and jurisdictional overlaps.
Oyebade called for the institutionalization of emotional intelligence and conflict management training across all security agencies, supported by counselling, stress management, and reflective leadership programmes.
He concluded that negotiation, empathy, and self-discipline are now as vital to Nigeria’s national security as operational strategy or weaponry.
“The leaders Nigeria needs today are those who can fight and plan, but also negotiate wisely, manage conflict constructively, and lead with emotional maturity,” he said.
The key recommendations by the retired DIG are:
- Incorporate emotional intelligence into all command and staff courses.
- Establish conflict resolution frameworks across security agencies.
- Institutionalize psychological and stress-management support for officers.
- Promote reflective and adaptive leadership at all operational levels.
- Strengthen inter-agency communication for coordinated national response.
