The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has linked the recent surge in killings across the country to political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, Musa noted that the renewed wave of insecurity, particularly in the North-East and North-West, cannot be divorced from heightened political activities.
“Last year we recorded the lowest number of deaths. How come this year, suddenly, everything has spiked?” he asked. “Politics is coming, the election is coming. You cannot rule out the fact that some people are controlling these criminals to ensure there is no peace, and governance is discredited. But the funny thing is, how do you kill the people you want to govern?”
The Defence Chief said both bandits and terrorists are working together to destabilise communities, adding that local and foreign funding continue to sustain their operations. He explained that agencies, including the Attorney-General’s office, the Department of State Services (DSS), the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), are tracking financiers of terrorism, though prosecutions remain slow due to legal hurdles.
Musa criticised Nigeria’s legal system for frustrating terrorism trials and called for the creation of special courts, faster prosecutions and stiffer punishments.
He further identified instability in the Sahel region and Nigeria’s porous 4,000-kilometre border as major security risks, stressing that weapons from conflict zones in Libya, Sudan and neighbouring countries flow easily into Nigeria.
He cautioned against indiscriminate hospitality towards foreigners, warning that insurgents often disguise themselves as ordinary visitors before turning violent.
On equipment and technology, Musa lamented that the military lacks real-time satellite systems and precision weaponry, noting that global conflicts have made security technology more expensive and harder to acquire.
He welcomed President Bola Tinubu’s approval of the Defence Industrial Bill, which he said would enable Nigeria to manufacture its own military hardware in collaboration with original equipment manufacturers.