Nigeria to deploy new platform to crush terrorism – CDS

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has disclosed that the renewed Boko Haram/ISWAP attacks are merely “an eclipse,” as the Nigerian Military is determined to crush them by deploying newly procured sophisticated weapons.

General Musa stated this on Thursday in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, whilst leading other security chiefs on an assessment visit to the Theatre of War at Military Command and Control in Maimalari Cantonment, Maiduguri.

Business Day reported that in the last two months, terrorists intensified efforts and dislodged military formations in Sabon Gari, Buni-Gari, Izge, Yamtake, Wulgo, Marte and Rann, amongst others.

The CDS went straight to visit Giwa Barracks situated in the city of Maiduguri, where he assessed the level of devastation caused by multiple explosions that erupted at the armoury due to recent heat waves.

General Musa and his entourage later visited Maimalari Cantonment and held a closed-door meeting with the Theatre Commander, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, and other top military brass.

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After hours behind closed doors with commanders, the CDS told newsmen that the renewed attacks on some military formations and communities in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states in the North East should not be a cause for concern, as the Nigerian Military and other security agencies are on top of the situation.

He added that security is not a one-man business, urging all and sundry to participate in the fight for peace and development of the country.

“As you are all aware, in the last three weeks I was in Borno state with Ministers of Defence and other service chiefs to assess the security situation in this part of the country,” he said.

“I felt it is good for me to come back to reassess the renewed attacks and engage with all stakeholders on the way forward.

“Security is not a one-man business. Let me appeal to all and sundry to key into the fight against Boko Haram/ISWAP, banditry, kidnapping and all other forms of criminality for peace and development of our dear country.”

The CDS emphasised that the federal government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is deeply committed to bringing lasting peace and development to all nooks and crannies of the nation.

“What we are witnessing in this part of the country is an eclipse, because it was a pressure against terrorists in the Sahelian Region, which has forced the terrorists to put pressure on Nigeria, especially in the Lake Chad Basin where the border is very porous and easy for infiltration. We are working assiduously to address these challenges,” General Musa explained.

“On my trip to Russia recently, Nigeria is non-aligned, and we have engaged with critical stakeholders who are ready to partner with us in this fight.

“We have also procured more sophisticated weapons which will soon be deployed with new strategies to end the madness of terrorism,” Musa concluded.