General Christopher Musa, former Chief of Defence Staff and current Defence Minister-designate, has warned that cross-border attacks by armed groups in North-Central and Southwest Nigeria will continue unless governors boost regional cooperation and security measures.
While speaking at his Senate screening, Musa praised the Southwest’s relative peace, attributing it to the governors’ united approach.
“Why the Southwest is doing well is because all the governors agreed together,” he said, emphasizing that collaboration is key: “two, three are better than one.”
Musa pointed out that bandits exploit Nigeria’s porous borders, fleeing into countries like Niger Republic where Nigerian forces can’t pursue them.
“Bandits don’t respect borders,” he warned, highlighting the Sokoto-Niger axis as a major concern.
He called for urgent support for the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in N’Djamena to secure borders with Mali and Burkina Faso, where threats are growing.
Musa linked recent Kwara State incursions to these movements, urging swift action to block further southward expansion. “We must stop them from getting further,” he said.
Musa also announced a security overhaul, stressing that all government agencies must align and play their part. “Action’s already taken. Now we need to harmonize everything,” he added, vowing zero tolerance for banditry and terrorism.