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ABUJA – Nigeria faces a growing security challenge, Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa warned on Friday. He stated that jihadist fighters, expelled from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, are now slipping into Nigeria. These militants are using the nation’s porous northern borders, escalating the jihadist threat from Sahel fighters present. General Musa delivered these stark remarks after important security talks with President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa.
“What has happened recently is that there’s a global push by terrorists and jihadists all over the Sahel area, and that pressure is what actually came into Nigeria because of the porous nature of our borders,” General Musa explained. This grave concern is supported by findings from the Armed Conflict and Location Event Data (ACLED) project. ACLED has reported a significant 40% surge in attacks by Islamic State Sahel Province and al-Qaeda affiliates. This spike follows the recent wave of military coups across the central Sahel, which has effectively pushed these combatants south into Nigeria, Benin, and Togo.
Military Mobilizes: Border Reinforcement, Collaborative Action
In direct response to the heightened jihadist threat from Sahel fighters represent, General Musa outlined a robust military plan. This strategy involves deploying new air assets to improve surveillance and rapid response. It also includes major upgrades to border security infrastructure and building stronger working relationships with state governments across the nation.
“Mr. President has given directives for us to intensify our efforts, collaborate with all our sister countries around,” he announced, highlighting the cross-border nature of the challenge. General Musa stressed the military’s dual approach, combining direct “kinetic” operations with essential “non-kinetic” measures like community dialogue and development initiatives. “Equipment has been bought… The non-kinetic aspect is most important,” he added, emphasizing a holistic strategy. He underscored the vital role of state-level cooperation: “We also need the governors to be part of it. The Federal Government is doing so much. States need to come in, local governments and communities. Everyone has a role to play.”
Call to Action: Citizens Urged to Stand Vigilant, Combat Fake News
The Defence Chief concluded with a strong appeal to all Nigerians. He urged citizens to increase their vigilance, report any suspicious individuals or activities immediately, and actively resist the spread of misleading social media content concerning the jihadist threat from Sahel fighters.
“It is important that we all cooperate with members of the armed forces… A lot of fake news has been spread. Most of the videos being circulated are from other countries or old videos,” he cautioned citizens. General Musa expressed his gratitude for the Nigerian public’s continued support of the military’s mission. “We’re happy that Nigerians are warming up to it, disregarding all the naysayers… We’re determined to continue succeeding. That we assure all Nigerians,” he affirmed with resolve.
By Kayode Ojo
