The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has warned that Nigeria’s worsening wave of killings and violent attacks is not unconnected to political maneuverings ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday night, Gen. Musa revealed that some politicians are deliberately fuelling insecurity to undermine government efforts and score political points.
Nigeria has witnessed renewed terror attacks in the North-East, bandit raids in the North-West, and recurring communal violence in Benue and Plateau States. Just this week, at least 34 worshippers were massacred inside a mosque at Unguwar Mantau community in Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State.
“Criminals—both terrorists and bandits—collaborate because they share common goals: to make money and destabilize communities. But there is also a political angle. Some individuals don’t want peace because peace would mean the government is succeeding. As elections approach, they fuel violence to discredit government,” Musa said.
He questioned the logic of destroying communities for political gain: “How do you kill the very people you want to govern? What do you gain from it?”
Terror Funding and Legal Bottlenecks
The Defence Chief also disclosed that terrorism in Nigeria continues to thrive due to both local and foreign sponsorship. He revealed that the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), the Department of State Services (DSS), and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) are actively tracking financiers of terror.
However, Musa lamented that legal hurdles and international complexities have delayed the public naming of terror financiers. He added that while some prosecutions have begun—including suspects behind the Owo church bombing—the judicial process remains painfully slow.
He called for the creation of special courts for terrorism cases and stiffer punishments to break the cycle of impunity. “Our legal system is frustrating. Evidence is often knocked out in court, punishments are inadequate, and prosecutions drag on for years. We must unbundle the legal system, make it faster and more stringent.”
Regional Threats and Porous Borders
General Musa further warned of worsening threats from the Sahel region, pointing to arms markets in Libya, Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, as well as Nigeria’s porous 4,000-kilometre border.
He cautioned Nigerians against indiscriminate hospitality toward foreigners, saying: “Boko Haram started when strangers were welcomed without caution. We must never allow foreigners to take an inch of our land.”
Musa revealed that Nigeria is collaborating with neighbouring Sahel states under the Alliance of Sahel States to stem cross-border terrorism.
Military Constraints and Rising Costs of Security
The CDS admitted that Nigeria’s fight against terrorism is hampered by inadequate technology and skyrocketing costs of military equipment—exacerbated by the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
“A single medium-range precision weapon costs about $100,000. How many can we afford in Naira? That’s why we use them strategically. Recently, we struck over 100 terrorists on 50 motorcycles in a single operation,” he disclosed.
He noted that Nigeria urgently needs real-time satellite technology for precision strikes, but such advanced systems remain expensive and largely inaccessible.
Musa welcomed President Bola Tinubu’s approval of the Defence Industrial Bill, which will enable local arms production, reduce dependency on foreign suppliers, and give the military greater flexibility in combating insecurity.
Call for National Support
The Defence Chief urged Nigerians to stop shielding criminals and providing them with shelter, fuel, or financial support.
“These terrorists thrive because some people still support them. If communities deny them safe havens, they won’t survive. To defeat them, everybody must be on board,” he stressed.
