Nigeria’s Defence Minister, General Christopher Musa, on Wednesday ordered troops to open fire on bandits and terrorists immediately upon deployment, warning that any soldier who hesitates while citing a lack of orders would be treated the same as the criminals they are meant to fight.
Speaking at the commissioning of newly acquired security equipment in Sokoto State, Musa told personnel not to wait for approval from anyone before engaging identified threats, describing it as a general order. He said troops have a duty to neutralize attackers before those attackers can harm them, and framed the directive as necessary given that the equipment provided to the military was funded by taxpayers and must be used decisively.
Musa also cautioned troops against misusing or extorting citizens during operations, saying their role is to protect residents and work with communities to root out armed groups, not harass them. He said the government would review how equipment has been maintained after one year.
The remarks came as Sokoto Governor Ahmed Aliyu commissioned a 27.127 billion naira ($16.5 million) security package that includes armored personnel carriers, tactical vehicles and hundreds of motorcycles, gadgets and protective gear, part of more than 36 billion naira the state has invested in security since Aliyu took office. Aliyu said a bill imposing tougher penalties on those who assist bandits has been sent to the state legislature, alongside plans for a new command and control center to improve surveillance and coordination.
The directive comes as Nigeria’s north-west and north-central regions continue to face persistent attacks from armed bandit groups involved in mass killings, kidnappings for ransom and cattle rustling, part of a broader security crisis that has also included a 15-year Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgency in the north-east.
