The newly appointed Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd), has directed troops deployed in conflict zones to immediately confront and neutralise armed bandits whenever danger arises, insisting that no soldier should wait for additional commands before responding.
Musa issued the directive on Wednesday during his Senate screening, where lawmakers questioned delays in field responses during encounters with insurgents. He explained that troops already understand their responsibilities the moment they are deployed, stressing that self-defence and the protection of communities do not require repeated clearance.
According to him, any officer who hesitates in the face of an armed threat is endangering lives. Musa said a trained soldier must rely on his judgment and instincts when confronting criminals attempting to kill or overrun a position.
He stated, “Every personnel member that is deployed knows why they’re deployed. You are to engage any criminal or any bandit that is armed and about to kill you. You don’t have to wait. Somebody is aiming to shoot at you, you’re waiting for orders, from who? Once you are deployed, you automatically have that responsibility.”
He added that no member of the armed forces should claim to be awaiting orders when faced with imminent danger, arguing that such a claim is false and often a sign of fear.
Musa also revealed plans to pull soldiers away from routine checkpoints across the country. He said the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps would take over those duties while the military focuses on penetrating forests and difficult terrains where insurgents operate.
“What we want to do is withdraw all personnel and military men from all checkpoints and let the police and civil defence handle those aspects,” he said. He explained that the shift is necessary to restore farming activities in communities terrorised by bandits, warning that food insecurity could become severe if farmers remain unable to access their land.
Responding to concerns about rising killings, Musa described the situation as a national tragedy driven by violent groups he said are often drug-fuelled and indiscriminate in their attacks. He stressed the need for stronger cooperation between security agencies and local communities to block the openings exploited by insurgents.
On military recruitment, Musa disclosed that the ministry is tightening background checks to eliminate saboteurs and ensure that only committed applicants are enlisted. He noted that some recruits avoid deployment to conflict zones, while some states contribute fewer applicants to the national pool.
He said over 70,000 people have applied to join the military, adding that the ministry is working on a balanced recruitment approach to ensure broader national participation.
Acknowledging the pressure attached to his role, Musa said he understands the expectations of Nigerians and vowed not to fail the country.
He also proposed that retired military personnel with decades of operational experience be reintegrated into national security support systems instead of being left unused.
Musa concluded that terrorism and banditry persisted because of years of neglected structural gaps. He assured lawmakers that closing those gaps would be a key priority under his leadership.
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