The Hidden Hands Behind Terrorism: Defence Chief Breaks Silence

Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has raised alarm over the alleged involvement of politicians in fuelling insurgency across the country, warning that political ambitions must never come at the expense of national security.

Speaking in an exclusive interview on Channels TV Politics Today, General Musa disclosed that the Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) are currently investigating politicians and financiers suspected of backing terrorism, with prosecutions already underway.

“How do you want to govern a people you’re helping to destroy?” the Defence Chief asked pointedly, suggesting that recent spikes in violence ahead of elections are no coincidence.

While acknowledging progress in intelligence-driven arrests of top insurgent commanders, Musa lamented that Nigeria’s weak legal system continues to frustrate the fight against terrorism. He revealed that high-value suspects often regain freedom through legal loopholes, undermining the sacrifices of security forces.

“You risk your life to arrest a terror suspect, then they walk free. It is demoralising,” he said, urging lawmakers to create special courts dedicated to terrorism cases.

The Defence Chief further traced Nigeria’s insecurity to the collapse of Libya and ongoing chaos in Sudan, which he said opened the floodgates for arms and foreign fighters to pour into the Sahel. He described the country’s porous 4,000km borders as a “grave vulnerability” requiring urgent regional cooperation.

General Musa also outlined a raft of solutions, including:

Fortified border walls and drone surveillance in the Northeast.

A national biometric database to track citizens, vehicles, and assets.

Boosting local defence manufacturing under the newly signed Defence Industrial Bill to cut costs and strengthen self-reliance.

On the role of citizens, the Defence Chief cautioned Nigerians against shielding or aiding insurgents, stressing that terrorist groups survive through local collaborators who provide fuel, logistics, and safe havens.

“This war cannot be won by the military alone. Everyone must take a stand,” he said.

Despite the grim realities, Musa praised frontline troops for their sacrifices and highlighted recent wins in arresting notorious insurgent leaders as proof of improved synergy between intelligence and operations.

COURTESY: emergencydigest