New Defence Minister, General Christopher Musa (rtd), has given troops a direct order to shoot any armed bandit they meet during operations without waiting for further instructions. He said this tough approach is needed to protect both soldiers and civilians.
Musa issued the order during his Senate screening on Wednesday, stressing that hesitation on the battlefield has cost the country too many lives. He told lawmakers that once a soldier is deployed, the mandate to act is already in place.
He explained that frontline troops should not claim they are waiting for higher approval before defending themselves. According to him, armed criminals must be neutralised immediately to stop attacks before they escalate.
The minister condemned soldiers who hide behind the excuse of “waiting for orders” when facing danger. He described such a response as cowardly and warned that no trained officer should delay action when an enemy is aiming to kill.
Musa also revealed a plan to pull soldiers away from routine checkpoints. He said these checkpoints will now be handled by the police and NSCDC so the military can focus on entering forests and hotspots where bandits operate.
He noted that restoring security in rural areas is crucial so farmers can return to their farmlands without fear. According to him, food scarcity will worsen if criminals continue blocking agricultural activities.
Speaking on the rising killings across regions, Musa blamed them on criminals “high on drugs” and exploiting weak coordination. He concluded by saying he understands the weight of national expectations and vowed not to fail in restoring peace.
