Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has linked the persistent surge in terrorism within the country to the deepening crisis in the Sahel region, revealing that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has issued fresh directives to the military to intensify operations and restore stability across affected areas.
Speaking in Abuja during a recent security engagement, General Musa said the influx of foreign fighters fleeing instability in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger Republic has heightened Nigeria’s security challenges. According to him, porous borders and regional insecurity have provided openings for terrorist groups to regroup and launch attacks on Nigerian soil.
“The situation in the Sahel is directly impacting Nigeria,” General Musa stated. “With the fall of law and order in some neighboring countries, non-state actors have found safe havens, and as they face military pressure there, they push southwards into Nigeria. This is why we’re experiencing renewed attacks, especially in the North-East and North-West.”
He noted that President Tinubu, aware of these dynamics, has mandated the Armed Forces to adopt a more aggressive posture and implement a robust response. The President, according to the Defence Chief, has also approved the acquisition of new air and ground assets to enhance military firepower and improve surveillance across Nigeria’s frontiers.
“The Commander-in-Chief has given us the marching orders to dominate the entire space, and we’re deploying resources accordingly. It is not only a kinetic battle; non-kinetic strategies like winning hearts and minds, improving governance, and ensuring development in troubled communities are equally critical,” Musa added.
The Defence Chief emphasized that inter-agency collaboration and regional cooperation are being strengthened to block the movement of terrorists across borders. He also appealed to Nigerians to support the military by reporting suspicious activities and resisting the spread of misinformation that undermines national efforts.
This revelation comes on the heels of renewed clashes and ambushes by terrorist factions in parts of Borno, Kaduna, and Niger States, prompting concern among security experts and civil society actors. Analysts have warned that without a regional strategy to address root causes of insecurity in the Sahel, Nigeria will remain vulnerable to external threats.
As the Tinubu administration pushes for increased investment in military capacity and strategic alliances with regional governments, the focus remains on preventing further infiltration and dismantling terrorist networks that continue to destabilize communities and disrupt national development.
