The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has urged Nigerians to unite in the fight against insurgency, warning that military force alone cannot bring lasting peace.
Musa made the call on Friday in Abuja at the public presentation of Scars: Nigeria’s Journey and the Boko Haram Conundrum, a book written by former Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor (rtd.).
“Military Solution Only 30 Per Cent”
The defence chief stressed that defeating Boko Haram and insecurity requires a whole-of-society approach.
“For us as a nation to move forward, we must look at this faithfully, truthfully and clearly in order to find solutions. It is not only a military solution. From my experience, the military solution is just 25 to 30 per cent,” he said.
Musa cautioned that insurgency thrives when national unity is weak.
“As long as we don’t love ourselves as Nigerians, and we don’t see ourselves as our brother’s keepers, this will continue. If we want this to end, we must learn to live together as brothers and sisters. It is not magic; it must be deliberate.”
Lessons from Abroad
Citing Singapore as an example, Musa noted that nations overcome challenges through resilience and collective will.
“Singapore faced its own difficulties but resolved to stand together—either die or develop. They worked, and today they have developed. Nigeria can do the same.”
Asymmetric Warfare and External Threats
Explaining the nature of Nigeria’s security challenge, Musa said asymmetric warfare differs from conventional wars because the enemy is embedded within society.
“In conventional warfare, you are dealing with states. But in asymmetric warfare, the enemy could be your father, brother, or neighbour. It is about ideology, and ideology is not written on the forehead—it is in the mind. We must find solutions to this mindset while also looking outward.”
He warned that external forces are also fueling instability in Nigeria.
“There are outsiders who benefit from our failures and want us to remain weak. We must not allow them to succeed. Africans must take responsibility for our own security instead of relying on others.”
Commends Irabor’s Legacy
Musa paid tribute to former CDS Gen. Lucky Irabor, describing him as a disciplined officer whose impact remains visible across Nigeria’s military.
“His footprint in the fight against insurgency and terrorism is indelible. Even in retirement, he continues to contribute to solving our security challenges.”
The defence chief concluded by reiterating that only Nigerians, working deliberately and collectively, can make the country secure and prosperous.
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