The newly appointed Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (rtd), yesterday issued a firm directive to frontline troops: engage and neutralise armed bandits immediately on sight—without waiting for further command instructions.

Musa gave the order while responding to questions during his Senate screening, insisting that the military must eliminate delays that expose troops and civilians to danger.

According to him, once deployed to conflict zones, personnel already possess the mandate and operational authority to confront armed criminals.

“Every personnel deployed knows why they are there. If an armed bandit is aiming to kill you or your colleague, you don’t wait for any order. The order is automatic,” he said.

“Anyone claiming to wait for authorisation in such moments is being dishonest—or simply a coward.”

Troops to Leave Checkpoints

Gen. Musa also announced plans to withdraw soldiers from routine checkpoints across the country. He said the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) would take over such duties to allow the military concentrate fully on counter-insurgency operations.

“We want to pull our personnel out of checkpoints and redeploy them into the bushes where these criminals operate. Farmers must return to their farms. Food security is tied directly to national security.”

‘No Nigerian Must Die Needlessly’

Expressing concern over recurring killings across states, Musa described the perpetrators as “evil men on drugs” who attack indiscriminately.

He urged stronger collaboration among security agencies, communities, and government authorities to close operational gaps exploited by criminal groups.

Recruitment to Face Stricter Screening

The minister also disclosed that the Defence Ministry is tightening recruitment processes to stop saboteurs and ensure only committed candidates are enlisted.

He noted that some applicants resist deployment to conflict zones, while some regions contribute fewer recruits despite massive national applications.

“We now have over 70,000 applicants, but recruitment will be based on a balanced system. We will use data to ensure fairness and eliminate infiltration.”

Retired Officers to Be Re-engaged

Musa hinted that experienced retired military personnel may be mobilised to strengthen national security structures, saying their expertise must not be wasted.

“Some retirees have over 40 years of experience. We must utilise such talent.”

Musa acknowledged the high expectations surrounding his appointment, pledging not to fail Nigerians.

“I feel the heat. I cannot afford to fail my nation.”