Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has issued a stern warning to Nigerians against providing any form of support—whether material or moral—to bandits and terrorists, declaring such actions as acts of treason against the state.
Speaking during an interactive session on government-citizen engagement organised by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation (SABMF) in Kaduna, General Musa said anyone contributing to insecurity in any capacity would be treated as an enemy of the country.
“Anyone who is contributing one way or the other to the downfall of our country is an enemy of the state, and we must face him squarely and defeat him,” the CDS declared.
Reaffirming the military’s resolve, Musa assured that the Armed Forces would not relent in their mission to restore peace and security across the north and the entire country.
“We will never let the north down. We will never let Nigeria down. We are ready for whatever it takes to succeed,” he said. “We’re committed; we will stay awake 24/7 to ensure that the north is free, Nigeria is secure, and any enemy of the state will be pursued relentlessly until total peace and tranquillity are restored.”
Musa emphasised the critical role of public cooperation in counterinsurgency efforts, urging communities to support security agencies and shun any alliance with criminal groups.
“If the people are not happy with what we are doing, then we are not succeeding. Commanders must ensure they carry the community along and protect them. Our operations are not aimed at harming innocent people but targeting the bad guys,” he said.
He condemned the practice of aiding bandits with supplies, such as fuel or food, stressing that such individuals would be treated as criminals under the law.
“If we find out that you are part of the criminal network by supplying them, you are also a bandit, you are also a terrorist,” Musa warned.
The CDS further noted that the survival of terrorist groups largely depends on support from communities and enablers within the population. He urged Nigerians to isolate and expose such individuals.
“The terrorists and bandits live among us. If we continue to provide them with services, they will continue to thrive. But if we deny them, they will fizzle out,” he said.
Providing updates on military operations, General Musa revealed that over the past two years, Nigerian forces have eliminated more than 3,000 terrorists and bandits, facilitated the surrender of over 120,000 insurgents, and rescued more than 2,000 kidnap victims.
He added that over 2,300 arms and 72,000 rounds of ammunition have been recovered across the northern theatres of operation, reinforcing the military’s efforts to neutralise threats and recover illicit weapons.
The post “You Are Also A Terrorist” — Defence Chief Warns Nigerians Aiding Bandits From Searchng.NG abijohn.com .
