By Temidayo Babalola
Defence Minister, Gen. Christopher Musa (rtd), has issued a sweeping directive to troops nationwide, ordering immediate engagement of armed bandits and criminal elements wherever they are encountered, without waiting for further clearance from superior officers, TMnews report
Musa delivered the directive during a high-level security strategy meeting in Abuja, where he expressed strong dissatisfaction with reports of delayed responses by some operatives during attacks on rural communities. He stressed that the military must reclaim the initiative from bandits who have exploited response gaps to terrorise farmers and travellers.
According to the minister, any soldier who hesitates in the face of imminent danger or claims to be “awaiting orders” during an attack is unfit for the uniform and will be treated as a coward. He warned that the era of sluggish operational response is over, adding that Nigerians deserve a security architecture that acts swiftly and decisively.
As part of a new operational framework, Musa revealed that soldiers currently stationed at static checkpoints across the country will be withdrawn and redeployed to active conflict theatres, where their combat skills are most needed. Checkpoint duties, he said, will now be handled by the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to free up military manpower for direct confrontation with criminal groups.
He explained that the redeployment aims to protect farmers, local communities and travellers who bear the brunt of bandit attacks, especially in frontline states where farming activities have been disrupted.
Musa reaffirmed that the safety of every Nigerian remains non-negotiable and vowed that the armed forces, under his leadership, will not allow preventable deaths or attacks caused by slow or inadequate response.
“We will not tolerate excuses. No Nigerian should die because a soldier failed to act. We are restructuring our operations to ensure rapid engagement and total dominance in all conflict zones,” the minister declared.
Security analysts say the directive marks one of the strongest policy shifts since Musa assumed office, signalling an aggressive posture aimed at degrading bandit networks and restoring confidence in the nation’s security system.
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