Insecurity: Identify, Neutralise Criminal Elements, CDS Urges Soldiers

Reported by Marian opeyemi Fasesan | Sele Media Africa

Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has directed military commanders across the country to intensify efforts in identifying and neutralising criminal elements that threaten peace and stability—both domestically and in the wider Sahel region.

Key Mandate from the CDS

• At the 2025 Joint Task Force Commanders Conference held in Abuja, General Musa warned that the security landscape is evolving with new threats and that security forces must adapt accordingly. [1]
• He emphasized that Nigeria’s Armed Forces cannot afford to “fail Nigerians,” and urged commanders to protect lives, property, freedoms, and the nation’s territorial integrity. [1]
• The CDS has, in various public statements, stressed that military operations alone are insufficient; a combination of intelligence, governance, legal reform, community engagement, and regional cooperation is essential in the fight against insecurity. [2]

Regional & Strategic Context

• General Musa has highlighted the risk of spillover from conflicts in the Sahel and the proliferation of small arms, noting that over 500 million small arms and light weapons circulate in West Africa. [3]
• He also warned that Nigeria’s legal and judicial system in some cases undermines military gains—when suspects are released on technicalities or given lenient punishments, morale within the armed forces suffers. [4]
• During visits to security operations in Plateau State, he called on communities and local leaders to assist in isolating criminal elements and supporting intelligence sharing. [5]

What to Watch

• Whether follow-up directives will include clearly defined rules of engagement, oversight mechanisms, and protection for civilians.
• How military cooperation with local authorities, state governments, and regional forces will evolve.
• Reforms to legal statutes regarding terrorism, organized crime, and criminal procedure to reinforce military operations.
• The impact of weapons interdiction and border control initiatives on reducing arms flow into Nigeria.

Citations:

1. The Sun: thesun.ng/insecurity-we-must-not-fail-nigerians-cds/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
2. Linda Ikeji’s Blog: m.lindaikejisblog.com/index.php/2025/6/insecurity-cannot-be-resolved-through-military-force-alone-cds-musa.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com
3. Vanguard News: www.vanguardngr.com/2025/07/insecurity-500m-small-arms-light-weapons-circulating-in-w-africa-cds/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
4. The Guardian Nigeria: guardian.ng/news/nigerias-legal-system-frustrating-the-military-fueling-insecurity-cds/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
5. Security Watch Africa: www.swafricanews.com/nigeria-cds-gen-musa-visits-plateau-vows-to-end-violence/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

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