The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, has attributed the recent surge in killings across Nigeria to political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Nigeria has in recent weeks recorded renewed terror attacks in the North-East, persistent banditry in the North-West, and deadly violence in Benue and Plateau states. On Monday, no fewer than 34 worshippers were killed at a mosque in Unguwar Mantau, Malumfashi LGA of Katsina State.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, Gen. Musa said the spike in insecurity, compared to last year’s relative calm, is politically motivated. He alleged that some politicians are fuelling violence to discredit government’s security efforts.
“Criminals—bandits and terrorists—work together to destabilise communities and profit from chaos. But politics is also involved. Some people don’t want peace because peace favours the government. How do you kill the people you want to govern? What do you gain from it?” he asked.
The CDS also revealed that terrorism in Nigeria is sustained by local and foreign funding. He noted that the Attorney-General of the Federation, the NFIU, DSS, and NIA are tracking financiers, though legal and international hurdles delay naming them. He confirmed that arrests and prosecutions are ongoing, including those linked to the Owo church bombing.
Gen. Musa lamented that Nigeria’s legal system hinders terrorism trials, calling for stiffer laws, faster prosecutions, and special terrorism courts.
He also pointed to security risks from the Sahel region, where instability and open arms markets fuel cross-border terrorism. With Nigeria’s porous 4,000km border, Musa warned against indiscriminate hospitality to foreigners who infiltrate communities under false pretences.
“We must never allow foreigners to take an inch of our land,” he cautioned, adding that the military is working with Sahelian counterparts under the Alliance of Sahel States to tackle the threat.
On resources, the Defence Chief admitted that inadequate technology and the high cost of equipment, worsened by the Russia-Ukraine war, constrain operations. He stressed the need for real-time satellites for precision strikes, noting their prohibitive cost.
Musa however welcomed President Bola Tinubu’s approval of the Defence Industrial Bill, which he said will enable Nigeria to produce equipment locally and reduce dependence on imports.
Despite the challenges, he assured Nigerians that the Armed Forces remain committed to protecting lives and called for citizens’ support in denying terrorists funding, logistics, and shelter.
ADEOLA KUNLE
