Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Christopher Gwabin Musa called on Nigerians to support the military’s efforts to combat terrorism and banditry, emphasizing a collective approach during a press briefing in Abuja following a security review with President Bola Tinubu.
Musa highlighted recent successes, including the neutralization of over 60 terrorists in Borno and 20 bandits in Zamfara in May 2025, but stressed that insecurity, which has killed 10,000 and displaced 2 million since 2020, requires public cooperation. He cited the rescue of 58 kidnap victims in Kaduna’s Birnin Gwari forest on May 30, 2025, as evidence of progress, achieved through non-kinetic means without ransom payments.
Musa expressed concern over porous borders, noting that jihadists from the Sahel, displaced by coups in Mali and Niger, are infiltrating Nigeria, exacerbating violence in the North-West and Middle Belt. He outlined plans for enhanced border patrols, deploying 1,000 additional troops and acquiring $50 million in air assets, including drones, to monitor Nigeria’s 4,000-km frontier.
The CDS debunked false narratives, warning against fake videos circulating online, with 70% traced to foreign or outdated sources, aimed at undermining military morale. He urged communities to report suspicious activities, citing the Lakurawa sect’s deceptive tactics in Sokoto, initially posing as allies before launching attacks.
Musa praised Tinubu’s support, noting $200 million in military funding for 2025, but criticized saboteurs, including unnamed elites, for allegedly fueling insecurity for personal gain. Nigerians, facing 40% inflation, expressed mixed reactions. The call underscores Nigeria’s complex security landscape, where 1,500 bandit attacks occurred in 2024, necessitating both kinetic and socio-economic solutions.
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