CDS Urges Nigerians to View Military as Democratic Partners, Not OccupiersThe Defense Headquarters (DHQ) has announced that, over the past two years, joint military operations across Nigeria have resulted in the elimination of 6,260 terrorists, the rescue of 5,365 civilians, and the recovery of stolen goods valued at over N83 billion.Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, called on Nigerians to move beyond outdated perceptions of the military as an occupying force.
Instead, he urged citizens to see the armed forces as committed partners in fostering Nigeria’s democratic development and ensuring national security.Brigadier-General Ibrahim Abu-Mawashi, Deputy Director of Defence Media Operations (DMO), shared these achievements during an expanded media briefing at the DHQ.
He reported that 14,138 terrorists and other criminals had been apprehended, with hundreds of weapons and thousands of rounds of ammunition recovered.Region-specific successes include: in the Niger Delta, troops recovered stolen crude valued at N83 billion, killed 103 criminals, arrested 2,760, and rescued 266 civilians from kidnappers; in the North East, 1,246 Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists were killed, and 2,467 suspects detained; in the North West, comprising Zamfara, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, and Sokoto states, the military killed 1,374 bandits, including their top commanders.
Additionally, in the South East, the Joint Task Force eliminated 440 terrorists and arrested 1,677 criminals; in the South West, 80 criminals were killed, 1,763 arrested, and 89 kidnapping victims rescued.
The military also recovered 143 weapons and nearly 178,000 rounds of ammunition in total.Brig-Gen Tukur Gusau, Director of Defence Information, highlighted that these milestones demonstrate the military’s ongoing efforts to address Nigeria’s complex security challenges.
He emphasized that the initiatives align with the leadership’s philosophy of “leading a people-centric armed forces.”During the maiden Civil-Military Relations Conference in Abuja, themed ‘Winning Hearts and Minds: Non-Kinetic Approaches to National Security,’ the CDS called for a shift in public perception.
He acknowledged Nigeria’s history of military interventions that fostered mistrust between civilians and the armed forces. “Historically, the relationship has been marked by suspicion and fear, which has hampered effective collaboration during crises,” Musa noted.
He emphasized that Nigeria’s military now operates within a democratic framework, accountable to the people it serves.
The Armed Forces are a constitutionally established institution rooted in democratic principles,” he stated.
Musa urged Nigerians to take an active role in national development and called on military commanders to prioritize community protection and welfare.
Earlier, Rear Admiral Olusanya Bankole, Chief of Civil-Military Relations at DHQ, described the conference as a significant step in advancing people-centered security efforts, fostering trust and collaboration between the military and civilians.
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