ABUJA: The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has attributed the recent surge in killings across the country to political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Nigeria has witnessed renewed terrorist attacks in the North-East and persistent banditry in the North-West, with Benue and Plateau states also remaining epicentres of violence. Only on Monday, gunmen killed at least 34 worshippers at a mosque in Unguwar Mantau, Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, Musa alleged that some politicians were deliberately fuelling insecurity to discredit the government’s security record.
Criminals, both bandits and terrorists, work together to make money and destabilise communities. But there is also a political angle.
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Some individuals don’t want peace because when there is peace, the government is seen to be doing well. Suddenly this year, killings have spiked. Politics is coming, elections are near, and you cannot rule out people using criminals to cause chaos. But how do you kill the very people you want to govern? he asked.
The CDS warned that terrorism in Nigeria continues to thrive on both local and foreign funding. He revealed that the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, the Department of State Services and the National Intelligence Agency are already tracking financiers of terrorism, but legal and international hurdles have slowed down the process of exposing them.
He also lamented that the country’s judicial system often frustrates terrorism prosecution, urging the creation of special courts and tougher laws to ensure quick trials.
Sometimes you take evidence to court, and it is struck out. Punishments are slow and inadequate. We need to unbundle the legal system, make it faster and more stringent. Once people know they can get away with crimes, impunity sets in, Musa stated.
The Defence Chief expressed concern over the spillover effects of conflicts in the Sahel, where open markets for arms and Nigeria’s porous 4,000km border have heightened security risks.
Since Libya fell, weapons have flooded the Sahel. Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso are unstable, and everybody is interested in Nigeria because of its size and resources. Nigerians must stop indiscriminately opening their doors to foreigners.
Boko Haram started like that welcoming strangers who later turned into monsters,he warned.
He added that the military is working with neighbouring countries under the Alliance of Sahel States to curb cross-border terrorism, but urged citizens to stop shielding criminals and providing them with funds, fuel, or logistics.
Musa highlighted the rising cost of security equipment, partly due to the Russia-Ukraine war, noting that a single medium-range precision weapon now costs about $100,000.
He admitted that terrorists exploit Nigeria’s lack of real-time satellite technology and modern equipment.
Sometimes, even with money, you cannot get the equipment because global demand is high. That is why I’m glad President Bola Tinubu last year approved the Defence Industrial Bill. With local production, we can get better value and reduce dependence on imports, he explained.
Despite these challenges, the CDS assured Nigerians that the Armed Forces remain committed to protecting citizens. He called for collective support, stressing that defeating terrorism requires the cooperation of all Nigerians.
