CDS Musa urges national unity to defeat Boko Haram, Insecurity

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has appealed to Nigerians to unite in order to end insurgency and insecurity across the country.

Speaking on Friday at the public presentation of Scars: Nigeria’s Journey and the Boko Haram Conundrum, a book written by former Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, Musa noted that military action alone cannot resolve the Boko Haram crisis.

“For us as a nation to move forward, we must look at this faithfully, truthfully and clearly in order to find solutions. It is not only a military solution. From my experience, the military solution is just 25 to 30 per cent,” he said.

The CDS stressed that unity is crucial, citing Singapore as an example of a nation that overcame its challenges through resilience. “As long as we don’t love ourselves as Nigerians, and we don’t look at ourselves as our brother’s keepers, this will continue. If we want this to end, we must learn to live together as brothers and sisters. It is not magic; it must be deliberate,” Musa stated.

He explained that Boko Haram could only be defeated through a “whole-of-society approach,” adding that the insurgency should have been nipped in the bud earlier. According to him, asymmetric warfare differs from conventional conflict because the enemy can be within. “Because you are dealing with ideology, it is not written on the forehead; it is within the mind. You must find solutions to the mindset of those doing these things and also look outward,” he added.

Musa also warned of external forces fuelling instability in Nigeria, stressing that Africans must take responsibility for their own security. “There are also people from outside who are ready to ensure they continue to succeed and the country continues to fail. We must not allow them to succeed. We as Africans need to face these challenges ourselves without waiting and relying on others to do it for us,” he said.

Commending his predecessor, Musa hailed General Lucky Irabor for his dedication and enduring contributions. “His footprint across our nation’s military is indelible, particularly in the fight against insurgency and terrorism. Even in retirement, he continues to add his quota to solving the security challenges facing us as a country,” he said.