Nigeria’s newly appointed Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd), has issued a direct and uncompromising order to military personnel: engage armed bandits immediately and “shoot on sight” when confronted, without waiting for further authorisation.
Speaking during his Senate screening on Wednesday, the former Theatre Commander said the instruction was necessary to ensure the safety of troops on the frontline and to demonstrate a decisive shift in Nigeria’s security posture. The directive came as lawmakers raised concerns about delays in relaying commands during insurgent and banditry-related confrontations.
Musa emphasised that troops deployed to conflict zones already carry the mandate to neutralise armed criminals. “You are to engage any criminal or any bandit who is armed and attempting to kill you. You do not have to wait. Once you are deployed, you automatically have that responsibility,” he said.
He dismissed claims by some personnel that they often require explicit orders before taking action, describing such hesitation as dangerous and unacceptable.
“If somebody is aiming to shoot at you, who are you waiting for orders from? Any member of the armed forces deployed anywhere who says he is waiting for an order is lying—such a person is simply being a coward,” he declared.
The Defence Minister also announced plans to withdraw soldiers from routine checkpoints nationwide. He said the duty would be handed over to the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), allowing soldiers to be redeployed to active combat areas. This realignment, he explained, is intended to give troops the freedom to “go into the bushes and take out these criminals.”
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Musa underscored the importance of restoring security for farmers, many of whom have been unable to access their farmlands due to growing threats from armed groups.
“Farmers must be able to return to their farms. If people cannot eat, you can imagine the consequences,” he warned.
Addressing the surge in killings across various regions, Musa described the perpetrators as “a group of evil individuals fuelled by drugs,” stressing that terrorists often exploit lapses in coordination among security agencies. “No Nigerian must be killed for any reason,” he added.
The Minister acknowledged the weight of public expectation as he assumes office, concluding, “I know that I cannot afford to fail myself, fail my nation, or fail my family.”
