The Nigerian military says it is in firm control of the country’s security challenges despite rising concerns.
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, gave the assurance after President Bola Tinubu’s meeting with security chiefs in Abuja.
According to him, the recent surge in terrorist activities across West Africa, particularly the Sahel, has intensified pressure on Nigeria’s northern borders, contributing to the current wave of insecurity.
General Musa said the security chiefs fully briefed the President, who gave clear directives aimed at strengthening national security.
“The porous nature of Nigeria’s borders has made the country susceptible to infiltration” the CDS explained.
He said as a result, the President had approved several initiatives, including the acquisition of advanced air assets and enhanced military equipment to boost operations across all military theaters.
The military leadership stated that Nigeria’s security response was not solely focused on kinetic action. “Non-kinetic efforts are just as vital”, pointing to ongoing collaborations with local governments and international partners.
He pointed out that the aim was to provide dividends of democracy to vulnerable communities, reduce the appeal of extremist ideologies, and stamp out the roots of insecurity through development and engagement.
“We are working as a team, armed forces, police, intelligence agencies to ensure peace and stability in Nigeria,” he added
General Musa also cautioned Nigerians against the spread of fake news, especially misleading videos purported to show current unrest.
“Many of these videos are from other countries or old incidents. People must stop celebrating bad news. If Nigeria is destroyed, we all suffer”, he stressed.