Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has warned that the country’s weak and sluggish legal system is undermining the military’s fight against terrorism, banditry, and organised crime, worsening insecurity nationwide.
In an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, Musa lamented that troops often risk their lives to arrest suspects, only for them to be released on technicalities or handed token penalties. He said such outcomes demoralise soldiers and embolden criminals.
“When people know they can get away with anything, impunity sets in and that is critical,” he said. “You risk your life, make an arrest, and then tomorrow you hear the item is released. Do you think that soldier is ready to sacrifice himself to go and make arrests again?”
Citing cases in the Niger Delta, the CDS revealed that seized oil vessels are sometimes returned to operators after minor fines, forcing the military to adopt deterrents such as destroying illegal bunkering vessels. “It sends a signal that we will not allow it,” he added.
Musa called on lawmakers to urgently review terrorism and organised crime laws to ensure faster trials and tougher punishments that match the gravity of threats to national security. “We need to bundle it, make it faster and more stringent,” he stressed.
He further warned that arms smuggling and the influx of foreign fighters from the Sahel and North Africa continue to fuel insecurity in Nigeria, urging stronger border control and regional cooperation.
Despite these challenges, he noted some gains through intelligence-sharing, community engagement, and non-kinetic measures aimed at disrupting recruitment pipelines of armed groups. But he cautioned that without stronger laws and swifter justice, military progress risks being reversed.
“There is never any country in the world that is crime-free,” Musa said. “But with stronger laws, faster justice, and the support of Nigerians, we can deny these groups the space to thrive.”
Beyond structural reforms, the defence chief urged Nigerians to personally prepare for today’s security climate by acquiring basic self-defence skills. He argued that such training should be treated as essential for survival, just like swimming or driving, and even suggested that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) should train graduates in unarmed combat and security awareness.
“It is important that every Nigerian is given security awareness at whatever level. Self-defence, unarmed combat, swimming, driving, these are critical for human survival. The world we live in is dangerous, and we must be prepared,” Musa stated.
He stressed that security should not be left to the military alone and urged Nigerians to remain vigilant at all times.
