By Gideon Dauda
General Christopher Gwabin Musa, the gallant four-star general and Nigeria’s current Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), was born in the ancient city of the caliphate, Sokoto State, on December 25, 1967. He began his early education there, continuing up to secondary school before enrolling in the prestigious Nigerian Defence Academy in Kaduna State in 1986. By September 1991, he was commissioned into the Nigerian Army as a second lieutenant in the Infantry Corps as a member of the 38th regular course.
His illustrious career spanned various strategic positions. The first is being the platoon commander at 192 Battalion and then Intelligence Officer at the same formation. Subsequently, he was appointed General Administrative Officer at 2 Division Camp (Garrison), Pioneer Adjutant 195 Battalion, Operations Officer – NIBATT 8 UNAMSIL, 2ic 195 Battalion, and 2ic 149 Battalion.
In addition, he served as Chief of Staff at HQ 2 Division, Commandant Depot Nigerian Army, Principal Staff Officer (Combat Arms) at Army HQ Department of Projects and Programmes, Pioneer Executive Director Nigerian Army Farms and Ranches Ltd, and Commander 82 Division Task Force Brigade OP LAST HOLD in the North East.
Before his elevation to his current position, General Musa was the Commander Sector 3 OP LAFIYA DOLE, Commander Sector 3 Multinational Joint Task Force in the Lake Tchad Region, Chief of General Duties TRADOC, Director Campaign Planning AHQ-DATOPs, and Director Training AHQ-DATOPs. His dedication, patriotic zeal, and commitment to excellence enabled him to discharge those responsibilities with dignity and pride; garnering experiences and recording successes that earned him the trust and confidence of the Nigerian Army and Defence architecture’s top echelon. He was, therefore, appointed Theatre Commander for Theatre Command North-East Joint Task Force Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) to address the recurring threats of both Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorist organisations at that time, yielding unprecedented and heartwarming results.
It was at Maiduguri, while on that assignment, that he made his mark as a true modern-day war general, combining logic, sound reasoning, gallantry, technology, patriotism, and high motivational skills to lead his troops to deliver the most outstanding performance by the Nigerian Army, since the onslaught against terrorists began in that area about a decade before his appointment as Theatre Commander.
Without a doubt, his experience, constant display of patriotism, gallantry, and trajectory of excellence in delivering responsibilities over the years informed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision to put him in charge of Nigeria’s Military to drive his defense architecture. General Christopher was appointed CDS on June 19, 2023, and within a year and five months, he has already repaid the trust Mr. President bestowed on him, as evident in the plethora of successes recorded during this period.
The neutralization of several bandits and terrorists’ hideouts and the killings of their leaders, such as Dogo Rabe, Boderi Ishaku, Kachalla Halilu, Buharin Yafi, and many other leaders and gang members, is epochal and worth commending. According to data released by the Nigerian Defence Headquarters, at the beginning of this year, troops neutralized no fewer than 2,352 terrorists, apprehended 2,308, and rescued 1,241 kidnapped hostages in different operations across the country.
The CDS has proven to be a leader par excellence. His charismatic disposition in influencing military performance, particularly morale boosting and cohesion, is top-notch. I recall how the CDS visited Zamfara to cheer his troops by rewarding them with a cash gift of 1 million for killing the notorious bandit leader Kachalla Buzu, alias Halilu Sububu, and his gang.
General Christopher Musa’s approach of combining kinetic and non-kinetic strategies in combating banditry and terrorism-being asymmetric warfare – is yielding desired results. Several troubled and displaced communities have been resettled, and farmers have resumed activities in areas previously abandoned before his appointment, enhancing food security.
In conclusion, anyone who values truth can attest to the fact that our highways are now safer, armed forces more proactive, responses to security threats more timely, and inter-agency collaboration more effective. He is the game changer and the Nigerian State’s enemies’ nightmare. General Musa is God’s gift to Nigeria, working with the army, naval, and air chiefs, and heads of sister security agencies to rid Nigeria of banditry, terrorism, and crimes that have been denying people sound sleep.
Keep succeeding, dear general. We are proud of your giant strides and pray God preserves and protects you against enemies within and without.
~Gideon Dauda, a patriotic Nigerian with an eye for excellence, writes from Ungwan Danbaki Village, Zonkwa Ward, Zangon Kataf LGA, Kaduna State.
