The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has urged all Nigerians to unify their efforts to overcome the challenges posed by insurgency and insecurity, stating that military solutions alone are insufficient.
Musa made the appeal on Friday in Abuja at the public launch of the book, SCARS: Nigeria’s Journey and the Boko Haram Conundrum, authored by his predecessor, General Lucky Irabor.
The CDS emphasised that for the nation to progress, it must engage in a “faithful, truthful, and clear” assessment to find lasting solutions.
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He estimated that the military aspect of the crisis accounts for only 25 to 30% of the necessary response, underscoring the need for national cohesion.
“As long as we don’t love ourselves as Nigerians, and we don’t look at ourselves as our brother’s keepers, this will continue,” he warned.
Musa insisted that ending the violence requires a deliberate commitment from all citizens to “live together as brothers and sisters.”
He cited the resilience of other nations, such as Singapore, which resolved to stand together and develop despite their challenges, to illustrate that Nigerians must consciously choose to transform their country.
“No one else will do it,” he stated.
Musa stressed that the insurgency could have been tackled more effectively in its early stages (nipped in the bud) and can only be defeated now through a whole-of-society approach.
He explained that the nature of the current conflict is asymmetric warfare, which is fundamentally different from conventional combat.
Since the adversary in asymmetric warfare operates from within society—potentially being “your father, brother or mother”—the challenge is identifying them and, more critically, addressing the underlying ideology and mindset driving their actions.
The Defence Chief also cautioned that external entities are actively trying to fuel instability to ensure the country continues to struggle.
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He urged Africans to take full responsibility for their security instead of relying on external aid.
Musa praised former CDS Irabor for his outstanding discipline and lasting impact on the Nigerian military, noting his “indelible” footprint in the fight against terrorism and his continued contributions even in retirement.
