For about two decades Nigerians have been grappling with national insecurity. The situation grew from haplessness to hopelessness over the years. The current Chief of Defense Staff, General C.G Musa has new ideas and are working effectively. Write Bomba
After Ustaz Mohammed Yusuf established the Boko Haram sect in 2002 in the northeastern state of Borno with the central driven ideology to fight against western education and civilisation and impose the sharia system of government, the radical Islamic group has carried out large-scale assassinations and kidnap of innocent people.
The most bizarre and hard to believe fact is, yet vicious in its trappings, Boko Haram kidnap their victims not for ransom. Kidnapping by Boko Haram is basically for recruiting machineries and using the female abductees as sex tool. Since the belligerent group rose to reckoning, the security situation in this country has gone south.
Worsened by the activities of bandits, kidnappers and cattle rustlers in the North – West region of the country. In the South – East, the so-called separatist fighters known as Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra(MASSOB) have been unleashing mayhem on their people in what is best described as “incoherent struggle for independence,” and oil theft in the South – South are sabotaging the economy of the country. All of this has muddled up the country.
Successive governments in Nigeria have appointed various Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) to defend the territorial integrity of the nation and help the nation achieve its first cardinal objective of existence as a government: Security of lives and properties. On 19th June, 2023 President Ahmed Tinubu appointed General Christopher Gwabin Musa as the 18th Chief of Defense Staff in Nigeria.
The CDS is the professional head of the Nigeria Armed Forces and the most senior uniformed military adviser to the Minister of Defense and the President. The CDS is the highest ranking officer to currently serve in the armed forces, and he is a member of the National Security Council, and National Defense Council. He makes and executes policies, carry out programmes aim at achieving national security and operational competent of the arm forces.
General C.G Musa as CDS
Gen. C.G Musa is a technically sound officer. Immediately he was given the mantle of leadership he stride forward. He has expressed an unwavering determination to lead the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) to ensure a peaceful and secured Nigeria. Since he made the declaration when he paid a courtesy visit to Gov. Uba Sani of Kaduna State in Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, Kaduna, he has been walking the talk.
Many Nigerians within the security corridor and without have expressed confidence in the CDS. The former Chief of Defense Staff, General Lucky Irabor (retd), said, “the peace of the nation is guaranteed with the appointment of Major General Chris Musa as his successor, a better officer could have been difficult to find.”
Gov. Uba Sani described the appointment of General C.G Musa as the Chief of Defense Staff by President Bola Tinubu as “well-deserved.” He believed that Musa has been exemplary in his professional conduct throughout his years of military service and praised the new CDS for his diligence, dedication, and loyalty that have now been rewarded with his elevation.
In a congratulatory letter to General C.G Musa on his appointment as CDS, Uba Sani wrote: “We are excited with your appointment, your outstanding career is a source of pride and inspiration to us. You are one of the most successful theatre commanders and you left an indelible mark in the North-East. You adopted a kinetic and non-kinetic approach and achieved a huge success.
Gen. Musa is someone we have trust in even within governors’ circle we have confidence that the issue of insecurity in Nigeria would soon be history because of what he did in the North-East.”
Atyap Chiefdom in Zango-Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State is one of the areas in the country that witnessed spate of violent attacks by bandits.
According to Agwa Atyap, HRH, Sir Dominic Gambo Yahaya, the paramount ruler of the Atyap people in Zango-Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State, the security situation in my chiefdom is far better now. Farmers are harvesting their farm produce in a much calm atmosphere. I must commend the effort of the day’s government and the security apparatus in improving the security situation. The CDS is a thorough soldier and a result-oriented professional. No doubt, Musa has added layers of creativity into the security architecture of the country.
The CDS has statistics in view of a non-kinetic approach to flaunt for his record as Theatre Commander in the Noth-East. Since resuming office as the CDS, the security situation in Nigeria has improved. The atmosphere is gradually becoming comfy and the potential for returning to normalcy are glaring. The military under Gen. Musa is fortified to face enemies of the state head-on.
Operational Successes under Gen. C.G Musa
It is in public glare that the security situation in the country under Gen. C.G Musa has drastically improved. Boko Haram, Kidnappers, Bandits, Cattle Rustlers, MASSOP and oil thieves are having hard times roaring in territories they previously held sway. The military are now in control of the whole hog.
On 10th December, 2023 airstrikes conducted by by the Nigerian Air Force reportedly killed a notorious terrorist kingpin, Ali Kawaje aka Ali Kachalla, near Mangoro in Munya Local Government Area of Niger State. Kachalla was one of the 19 bandit leaders on the Defense Headquarters most wanted list in November 2021.
The Nigerian Air Force, as part of Operation Hadin Kai Theatre Command, carried out operations between November, 25 and 26 killed Abu Asad, a notorious Boko Haram commander in an air raid at Tungushe in Borno State. This is huge.
Opinionated minds have written-off the accolade that trails the killing of the Boko Haram kingpin, saying, the country has slipped momentarily into a familiar fantasy. But, some discerning minds are of the view that, the killing of Abu Asad is a boost to the fight against insurgency. The killing of the honcho is more important than killing hordes of skinny, haggard looking bearded face and skimpy dress terrorists.
On the flip side, the ugly incident that took place on 3rd December, 2023 in Tudun Biri in Igabi LGA of kaduna state where Muslims marking Maulud celebration were killed in a misfire by the Nigerian Army was described by the CDS as “regrettable.” The army apologised and took responsibility for the misfire, which claimed the lives of 85 people and others sustained various degrees of injuries.
In all the regions of the country, the military are having standout performances. The last 6 months is an upgrade to the past years of former President Muhammadu Buhari. Though there are still grey areas and more needs to be done, again, the moment in the country is better than where we are coming from.
The Nigerian Minister of Defense, Mohammed Badaru and Minister of State for Defense, Dr. Bello Muhammed Matawalle hailed the Nigerian Army under General C.G Musa for selfless sacrifice of its personnel which brought about de-escalation in insecurity across Nigeria. The Minister made the statement during his maiden familiarisation visit to the Army Headquarters, Abuja.
In the oil rich Niger Delta region of Nigeria, the military firepower has been able to tame the ferocious militants, illegal oil bunkering and theft. The resultant effect is the increase in the country’s oil output, which rose from 36,615,125 barrels of crude oil in August 2023 to 40,396,863 barrels in September, 2023. With this, the nation’s oil earnings have increased by over N273. 8bn.
When Gen. C.G Musa was the Theatre Commander, Operation Hadin Kai in the North-east, not fewer than 75,000 members of Boko Haram insurgents surrendered with their families and the number now increased to about 100. The military gaffer made the revelation when the Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria visited him at the Defense Headquarters (DHQ) in Abuja.
The Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria extolled the CDS for his uncommon leadership qualities and neutrality in the discharge of his responsibilities.
When the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Kaduna Chapter paid him a courtesy visit at the DHQ in Abuja, the CDS said, “why we deployed both kinetic and soft or non-kinetic approaches in the North-East is because our role in ensuring peace is not all about killing, killing, killing. No! The twin approach hinges on our conviction on the stick and carrot approach.”
The military in the frontline have gone through foxholes and fought the criminal elements in the most aggressive way possible. Some of the hotbeds of banditry, kidnapping and Cattle rustling in the north are now experiencing a positive energy sweeping across their communities.
Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Zamfara, Niger, Plateau, Benue, Taraba, and Gombe States were hotspots of banditry. Some of the mentioned states have lost some of their communities to the activities of bandits.
The connection between mining and banditry is experienced in Zamfara and kaduna states. In Kaduna State, the Birnin Gwari general are: Kuduru, Kuyanbana and Kamuku forest are hideouts for bandits. These communities have huge gold deposits like Zamfara State. According to the former governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, at the maiden economic summit of the state, “We have just found out that there is more gold in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna than in South Africa.”
When Musa went to the House of Representative and briefed the federal lawmakers on the state of security in the country in November, 2023 the military top brass expressed the desire for states to take over mining sites for proper management.
These illegal miners are some of the triggers of insecurity in the country. No villager will willingly leave his community for mining activities to take place, in addition, because illegal miners don’t want to concession part of their profit to mining communities they pay bandits to wipe out communities to pave way for illegal mining to take place e.g Zamfara and Birnin Gwari in Kaduna States.
Kaduna state is one of the states worst hit by the activities of bandits, terrorists, kidnappers, and cattle rustlers. In the state, Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Igabi, Chikun, Kajuru, Kauru, Kachia, Zango-Kataf and Lere LGs are at the epicenter of banditry. In its Annual Security Report, Security Situation in Kaduna State (April, 2023) compiled by the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Kaduna State.
The report indicates that the total number of deaths linked to banditry, terrorism and other forms of violence in 2022 is 1,052. While victims killed due to banditry, terrorism, violent attacks, reprisal and communal clashes from 2020 -2022 is 3, 181.
It is obvious that when the kaduna state Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs will release its next Security Report, the number of victims will drastically reduce as a result of the improvement in the security situation in the country. This brings home the reality that the security situation has indeed improved.
Against the negative narration by some Nigerians, the erroneous attack should not be a basis for underscoring the achievements of the military on the war against Insurgency under the current dispensation.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu tasked the Nigeria Army to carry out full scale investigation of the erroneous airstrike and directed the Pullako Initiative should be kick-started in Kaduna State, with a complete package, including houses, clinics, schools, veterinary clinics, empowerment Initiatives and solar energy, among others, in Tudun Biri community as a way of compensation for the destruction caused by the drone misfire.
The military in Kaduna State has been able to suppress the bandits. Travellers plying the Kaduna-Abuja, Kaduna-Kafanchan, and Kaduna-Zaria highways are doing that without the fear that gripped them during the President Buhari administration when the security situation was at its lowest ebb. Travellers now travel even at night.
On 22 November, 2023 the CDS, Gen. C.G Musa was invited by the House of Representatives to brief them on the state of security in the country. He raised pertinent issues relating to the security situations in the country and what are sabotaging their efforts in combating insurgency.
According to him: In the North-east, Boko Haram from the prison could plan operations out in the field. They pass funds across. They use some of the warders.·
* Security is not the responsibility of security forces alone. Media reportage in the country often glorified bandits and terrorists but demoralised soldiers.
* In the North-east, we are able to achieve so much because we have an element of good governance.
* Improvised Explosive Device (IEDs) has remained the most potent threat that we have.
* If people cannot eat, if people are hungry, no matter how you tell them to keep the peace, they will not and that breeds criminality. Those are the aspects we are looking at, particularly good governance.
* Movement of light weapons and small arms. Human trafficking is rampant. It is important that we must establish good border control, so that we can know the people coming in and going out.
* Niger State alone has over 73 unmanned forests, these are places where non-state actors operate.
* There were a lot of Boko Haram elements that have been captured. We have kept them for five/six years. We, the armed forces, can arrest but cannot prosecute. Some of them have been found wanting but no prosecution. We are keeping them for this lengthy period – everyone is accusing the armed forces of keeping them against their human rights but we cannot prosecute.
* Another aspect of the judiciary is that you use all your effort to make an arrest, you hand them over, and before you enter your vehicle, the man has been released on bail. Now, you have risked yourself in doing that, by the time he is released, he goes to tell the people the person that arrested him. Now your family members or you are at risk. It is getting to a state where the security forces do not want to make any effort.
* We have the issue in the South-South. A lot of the ships – the last ship that was arrested, was arrested 10 years ago – went and changed its name, changed its colour and came back again. Ten years later they were arrested again. By the time you hand over the ship, before you know it, it is released. I think that is one area we must look into. We must have a special court to look into it. That is why we arrest and destroy them because the longer we keep them, it becomes a problem because we come under pressure to release them.”
* Simon Ekpa has become a menace to this country. The country must act on it diplomatically. Finland is having a freeway encouraging him to do what he is doing. His utterances and actions are affecting what is happening in Nigeria.
The Nigerian Army regardless of some of the challenges faced in various theatres, massive progress has been achieved. In various states, troops of the Nigerian Army have freed many kidnapped victims from kidnappers den, intercepted and recovered weapons from bandits. Below are some of the success stories of the Nigerian Army in various theatres.
* Troops of Operation Safe Haven unearthed a gun manufacturing site in Kafanchan, Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Locally crafted AK – 47 rifles, military grenade, revolvers, and a submarine gun were recovered.
* Troops of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) on Operation Hakorin Damisa 1V from 9 to 16 October 2023 neutralised bandit/armed robbers and arrested 59 suspects in connection with kidnapping, armed robbery, cattle rustling, railway vandalisation, and gun running, illegal mining. Recovered 39 rounds of 7.62mm special, mobile phone, AK 47 rifle, 5 cartridges, one baofeng radio/charger, one woodland camouflage vest and one black trouser.
* Troops deployed at Qua’anpan Area Command neutralized one armed robber while others fled with bullet wounds while on the road in Qua’anpan LGA of Plateau State and recovered one AK 47 rifle, one Ak 47 magazine, 2 rounds of 7. 62mm special, 1 techno mobile phone and a pair of sucks.
* Troops engaged bandits in a gun duel around Jimlari village while moving to Ardo Kola village, troops superior power forced the bandits to flee with many sustaining high degree of gunshot wounds. Troops further exploited the area and rescued two kidnapped civilians. Recovered one mobile phone, one torchlight, 56 empty cases, some drugs, 5 blankets, 2 cooking pots, 3 gallons, 2 plates, 9 mats and other household items.
* Troops recovered 10 rustled cows at Bugal village bordering Mangu and Barkin LGAs.
* Troops of Sector 6 arrested 4 suspected cattle rustlers, Zaka Alamba, Awilo Davou, Bulus Alamba and Bulus Dachung Dongo at Tahoss village in Riyom LGA.
* Troops acting on credible information arrested a notorious kidnapper, Madu Abubakar at Kwa Village in Qua’anpan LGA. R|ecovered 4 rounds of 7.62mm special and one motorcycle·
* Troops of Sector 4 foiled an attempted attack by suspected militia on Bisichi village in Barkin Ladi LGA and recovered one motorcycle.
* OPSH arrested 2 suspected kidnappers, Mamu Dauda and Mohammed Zakari who have been on the wanted list of OPSH at Zango-Kataf LGA of kaduna state.
* Troops recovered one rifle, one motorcycle, 3 mobile phones, one dagger and some amount of money·
* Troops of Sector 4 rescued Mr. Dung Gyang who was abandoned inside water after he was attacked by unknown gunmen at Lokojoro village in Barkin Ladi LGA of Plateau State.
* Troops arrested 2 suspected kidnappers, Aliyu Usman and Umar Babuga at Jagindi Tasha village in Jema’a LGA.
* Troops conducted raid operation at Mararaban Sabon Gida in Sanga LGA of Kaduna State and arrested suspected kidnapper, Abdulkadir Rufai, w member of a criminal gang terrorizing Sanga general area.
*1 Division of Nigerian Army rescued 6 kidnapped victims and 1 bandit neutralized in Hayin Tsando general area of Maraban Jos, Igabi LGA of kaduna state. Recovered two Ak47·
*Troops deployed at Dukku LGA arrested 2 suspects, Malam Maikudi Dothy and Malam Danladi Ibrahim with one pistol and 2 motorcycles.
*Troops stationed at Manchok intercepted a truck loaded with railway materials suspected to have been vandalized from Kafanchan in Kaura LGA of Kaduna State and arrested 2 suspects who were occupants of the truck.
* Troops arrested one Azi Ashom Abubakar at White House Hotel Haske Quarters in Jos East LGA. Recovered one SMG, one locally fabricated pistol loaded with 8 rounds of 9mm, 17 cartridges, 3 empty cartridge cases, one fragmental jacket, 2 knives, one Gionee mobile phone and some amount.· Troops recovered one AK 47 rifle, one magazine and 7 rounds of 7.62mm special from a gun duel with bandits at Yelwa, Jalingo LGA·
*Troops arrested a suspected gunrunner, Mohammed Kabiru at KoKo Ibi Lau LGA and recovered one pistol and 3 cartridges.· Troops deployed to Mangu LGA arrested a suspect with a rifle, AK 47 magazine, a plier and hammer.
* Troops while on patrol arrested one Ayuba Sati at Jannaret in Mangu LGA of Plateau State with one AK 47 rifle, one empty Ak 47 magazine, one motorcycle, one empty jerry can, one techno mobile phone and some amount of money.
* Troops arrested 3 suspects, Goma Abubakar, Mohammed Zakari, Hussein Isa and Isa Mohammed for planning to attack villages in Zango-Kataf LGA of Kaduna state. Recovered one AK 47 rifle, 4 pistols and 5 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.
* Troops of 1 Division Nigerian Army laid ambush on bandits’ arms and ammunition supplier at Chikun and Kajuru LGA. 1 bandit was killed, one AK 47 rifle, one magazine, veterinary medicine and clothing were recovered.
* Troops foiled an attempted attack at Denche village in Jos East LGA.
* Troops arrested a suspect at Garin Yarima Gessol and recovered 4 × AK 47 rifles and 4 magazines.
* OPSH troops of Sector 7 raided criminals’ hideout at Gidan Waya general area in Jema’a LGA and arrested 4 suspects Bala Awodi, Audu Bala, Ishaku Musa and Murtala Ibrahim.
* Ibrahim Muhammed was arrested at Mavo area, Jos North for attempted murder and handed over to the Nigeria Police Angwan Rogo Division for further action.
* Troops foiled an attempt to kidnap Mr Ibrahim Kyamyam at Saya village in Bassa LGA, after forcing the kidnappers to flee due to the superior firepower of troops.· Troops of sector 5 recovered 80 rustled sheep abandoned by the criminals who fled after sighting troops stationed at Takai village in Bokkos LGA of Plateau State.
* 69 cows were recovered for grazing on farmlands at Vodni village in Mangu LGA.
* Troops also averted farmers/herders clashes at Tashek village in Riyom LGA.· Troops in conjunction with personnel of the Nigeria Police and hunters rescued 11 female farmers kidnapped while working on their farmlands at Riruwa village in Toro LGA of Bauchi State.
*Troops arrested 2 suspected drug peddlers, Joseph Isaac and Henry Pam with substances suspected to be cannabis sativa and other illicit drugs.
* Troops deployed at Sector 6 also arrested a suspected drug peddler, Yushau Usman during a stop and search operation along Hawan Kibo road in Riyom LGA.
* Troops arrested 31 illegal miners at forest Kara market in Jos South LGA.
* Between 9th and 16th October 2023, OPSH secured the conviction of 5 suspects named Hamisu Gyang, Pam Ibrahim, Mafeng Gwott, Ibrahim Mohammed and Abdullahi Abubakar charged for criminal conspiracy, unlawful possession of firearms, theft and culpable homicide. The suspects were sentenced to 6 months imprisonment each with an option of fine.
* 2 armed robbers/bandits were neutralised, 39 suspects arrested with arms and ammunition, 5 criminals convicted, 13 victims rescued from kidnappers, 3 drug peddlers arrested, 2 railway vandals nabbed, 7 attacks on vulnerable communities were deterred and 15 distress calls were promptly responded to.
* Troops of 1 Battalion Dukku Barrack, Birnin Kebbi rescued 4 kidnapped victims abducted by bandits at Bangi Hill in Suru LGA of Kebbi State.
* Troops of 1 Division Nigerian Army and Operation Whirl Punch carried out an offensive clearance operation on bandit strongholds in Sabon –Birni, Dogon Dawa, Saulawa, Maidaro-Ngede Allah and Kidenda all in Birnin Gwari LGA of Kaduna State. The troops neutralized 6 bandits, recovered two AK 47 rifles, four AK 47 rifle magazines, 14 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, 40 pairs of bandit uniforms and 9 motorcycles.
* Troops of the Joint Task Force Operation Hadarin Daji (OPHD) in Tangaza LGA of Sokoto State rescued 31 hostages held by bandits.
* Troops of the Nigerian Army rescued 6 (all male) hostages abducted by bandits in a forest in Shanga LGA of Kebbi State.
