Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has blamed the recent surge in killings across the country on the political manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 general elections, accusing some politicians of exploiting insecurity to undermine the government.
The country has witnessed renewed terror attacks in the North-East and relentless assaults by bandits in the North-West, while Benue and Plateau states continue to be hotbeds of communal bloodshed. On Monday, at least 34 worshippers were gunned down inside a mosque in Katsina State.
Appearing on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, Musa argued that the spike in killings compared to last year could not be separated from political activity.
“Criminals, both bandits and terrorists, work together. But there is also a political angle,” he said. “Some individuals don’t want peace because when there is peace, the government is seen to be doing well. When there is no peace, the government is seen to be failing. How come last year we recorded the lowest number of deaths, and suddenly this year everything has spiked? Politics is coming, elections are coming. Some people are controlling these criminals to ensure governance is discredited. But how do you kill the very people you want to govern?”
Musa further revealed that terrorism in Nigeria is propped up by both local and foreign financiers. He disclosed that the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), and security agencies were tracking sponsors of terror, though legal and diplomatic hurdles had slowed the naming and shaming of those involved.
“The process of naming terrorism financiers is on,” Musa said. “Some get funds from abroad. The NFIU has done so much; arrests have been made and prosecutions have started. Those behind the Owo bombing are already facing trial.”
But the Defence Chief lamented Nigeria’s sluggish legal system, saying it has repeatedly frustrated efforts to prosecute terrorism cases. He called for the creation of special courts, faster trials and harsher punishments. “Our legal system is frustrating. We need to unbundle it, make it faster and more stringent. Once people know they can get away with anything, impunity sets in,” he warned.
Musa also placed Nigeria’s crisis within a wider regional context, pointing to instability across the Sahel and porous borders that have allowed weapons and fighters to flow into the country. “Since Libya fell, the Sahel has been open. You can buy any weapon in those markets. Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso are also unstable. Everybody is interested in Nigeria because it is rich and large. Nigerians open their doors too easily, welcoming strangers who later become monsters. We must never allow foreigners to take an inch of our land,” he cautioned.
The Defence Chief stressed that the military is working with neighbouring Sahelian countries under the Alliance of Sahel States to curb cross-border terrorism but urged Nigerians to stop shielding criminals with funds, logistics and shelter.
Musa also drew attention to the technological and financial constraints of fighting terror, citing the soaring costs of precision weaponry amid the Russia-Ukraine war. “The price of a medium-range precision weapon is $100,000. At that rate, how many can you buy? You must be careful how you deploy them. We need real-time satellite technology for precision strikes, but these are extremely expensive,” he said.
To address this, he praised President Bola Tinubu’s approval of the Defence Industrial Bill, which he said would allow Nigeria to produce its own military equipment. “If we don’t produce, it will be extremely difficult. With the new bill, we can bring in original equipment manufacturers to set up production in Nigeria,” he added.
Despite the bleak picture, Musa insisted the armed forces remain committed to protecting Nigerians but stressed that security cannot be won by the military alone. “These terrorists thrive because some people still support them. To defeat them, everybody must be on board,” he said.
