Don’t wait for orders before engaging terrorists, Defence Minister tells troops

The Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), has urged security personnel to take decisive action against terrorists and bandits, warning that officers who deliberately fail to confront criminals under the excuse of awaiting orders risk being treated as collaborators.

 

Musa gave the warning on Wednesday in Sokoto State during the commissioning of 62 operational vehicles and security equipment worth N27.127 billion procured by the state government to strengthen security operations.

 

The minister said troops deployed to combat terrorism and banditry must act within their mandate and not hesitate when confronted by armed criminals.

 

“Once you are deployed, do not wait for any order from anybody to shoot any bandit or any terrorist. Anybody who refuses to shoot or kill any bandit or terrorist in the name of waiting for an order, we will treat you like a bandit,” Musa said.

 

He described the security intervention by the Sokoto State Government as a demonstration of strategic leadership and responsible governance, commending Governor Ahmed Aliyu for supporting security agencies with logistics and operational resources.

 

According to him, the newly acquired armoured vehicles and tactical equipment would improve intelligence gathering, mobility and force protection in the fight against banditry, terrorism and kidnapping.

 

Musa, however, warned security personnel against mismanaging the equipment, stressing that the assets were acquired with public funds and must be properly maintained.

 

“This equipment costs billions of naira. We don’t want to hand them over and then you throw them away or mishandle them. They must serve the purpose for which they were procured,” he said.

 

The minister also urged officers to remain professional and protect civilians while carrying out operations.

 

“You are not to go there and extort or harass the people. You are there to protect them and work with them to eliminate bandits and terrorists operating within your area,” he added.

 

Earlier, Governor Ahmed Aliyu said the latest security investment was part of his administration’s efforts to strengthen the state’s security architecture.

 

He disclosed that the state procured bulletproof vehicles, Buffalo Armoured Personnel Carriers, 320 motorcycles, 3,200 security gadgets, 2,000 bulletproof helmets and vests, night-vision goggles, thermal devices and other tactical equipment.

 

Aliyu said the state government had spent N27.127 billion on the newly commissioned security assets, adding that more than N36 billion had previously been committed to security interventions, including operational vehicles, military and police barracks, the establishment of the Sokoto State Community Guard Corps and support for the Nigerian Air Force Base.

 

The governor also revealed that a bill seeking stiffer penalties for informants aiding bandits had been forwarded to the State House of Assembly.

 

He added that the government had approved the establishment of a Command and Control Centre to improve surveillance and coordination of security operations across the state.

 

Aliyu urged residents to continue providing credible intelligence to security agencies, noting that defeating banditry requires collective effort.