The Nigerian Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, restates the commitment of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) to restoring peace and strengthening security across Northern Nigeria.
He made this known during a presentation at the two-day interactive session on Government–Citizens Engagement organised by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation in Kaduna.
Addressing leaders, scholars, and civil society representatives, General Musa describes the session as timely, saying it provides a platform to evaluate the government’s performance, especially in the security sector.
He outlines key military milestones achieved since assuming office in 2023, in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s strategic security directives.
These include the establishment of the Joint Doctrine and Warfare Centre in Abuja and a new Department of Training at Defence Headquarters, aimed at enhancing joint operations and personnel efficiency.
General Musa also highlights the graduation of over 800 Special Forces operatives, with hundreds more currently in training at Jaji and Nasarawa, to counter asymmetric threats in the North.
He explains that the restructuring of operations in the North-West into Operation FANSAN YAMMA—a unified joint task force—has been accompanied by the creation of Defence Special Forces Brigades in Kaduna and Niger States, and additional sectors under Operations HADIN KAI and FANSAN YAMMA.
The expansion of Forward Operating Bases and deployment of high-readiness units, he says, are critical in reclaiming volatile territories.
“Over 3,000 terrorists and bandits have been neutralised, more than 120,000 insurgents have surrendered, and over 2,000 kidnapped victims have been rescued within the last two years,” he states.
He adds that more than 2,300 arms and 72,000 rounds of ammunition have been recovered across various operational theatres in the North.
Beyond combat, the CDS also outlines community-based peacebuilding strategies, including youth sports competitions, civic reorientation campaigns, and sustained engagement with traditional rulers, governors, and civil society.
“These efforts are rebuilding trust and enabling the safe return of displaced persons to their ancestral communities,”he explains.
He discloses that the Armed Forces are also contributing to economic recovery through the establishment of ranches, schools, and ICT training centres—especially in the North-East and North-West—in alignment with the Federal Government’s local content policy.
General Musa acknowledges the role of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), and other local defence manufacturers in advancing military logistics and innovation.
On regional diplomacy, he recounts his official visit to Niger Republic in August 2024, where he engaged his counterpart on efforts to curb cross-border threats and promote peace in the sub-region.
He further announces Nigeria’s hosting of the African Chiefs of Defence Conference in Abuja from 25–27 August 2025, aimed at fostering continental collaboration on security challenges.
PIAK