₦airaland Forum

Shoot On Sight, Wait For No Order—New Defence Minister Charges Troops

The newly appointed Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd), has ordered troops to engage armed bandits immediately on sight without waiting for further directives.

Musa, during his Senate screening on Wednesday, said this instruction was essential for frontline protection and for restoring confidence in the country’s security efforts.

Musa issued the directive while responding to lawmakers’ concerns about command delays during encounters with insurgents.

He explained that military personnel automatically assume the mandate to kill armed criminals once deployed to conflict zones.

According to him, troops must rely on their training and instincts to protect themselves, their colleagues, and the communities under their watch.

He said, “And for the troop, every personnel member that is deployed knows why they’re deployed. You are to engage any criminal or any bandit that is armed and about to kill you. You don’t have to wait.

“Somebody’s aiming to shoot at you, you’re waiting for orders, from who? Once you are deployed, you automatically have that responsibility.”

Musa added that troops cannot claim they are awaiting authorisation when confronting imminent danger.

He continued, “Your colleague is to be shot and you know, there is no other way of stopping it, other than to kill the person. You are to secure the community or property you are protecting, and this they all know.

“So if any member of the armed forces deployed anywhere tells you that he’s waiting for an order, he is lying and he’s only a coward.

“There is nothing like he’s waiting for any order. The order is automatic. He’s briefed before he’s deployed. And I think that it is very important that we be able to bridge that gap.”

Musa also disclosed that the defence ministry plans to withdraw soldiers from routine checkpoints and redeploy them to active conflict zones.

He said the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps would take over checkpoint operations, allowing soldiers to confront insurgents in difficult terrain.

He stated, “What we want to do is withdraw all personnel and military men from all checkpoints and let the police and civil defence handle those aspects.

“These will enable the military men to go into the bushes and take out these criminals, wherever they are as it’s important.

“Farmers must be able to go back to their farms… If people can’t eat, you can imagine what will happen.”

Musa stressed the need for continuous collaboration between security agencies to secure food-producing communities and restore agricultural activities disrupted by violence.

Addressing rising concerns around mass killings across regions, Musa described the situation as one that affects every Nigerian.

He said, “People are killed, people are dying. That’s why it’s important, that we must come together and it is when we allow them to have gaps that they penetrate.

“They don’t care who they kill. A bunch of evil people that are on drugs… no Nigerians must be killed for whatever reason.”

On military recruitment, Musa said the ministry is strengthening background checks to prevent sabotage and ensure that only committed applicants are enlisted.

He observed that some applicants avoid postings to conflict areas, while some states contribute fewer recruits to the national pool.

He stated, “On the issue of saboteurs normally we recruit from the society. Recruitments are going to be thorough which brings us back to the use of a database.

“A lot of people now because there is war, even in the military you find some people not willing to go to where there are conflicts.

“Again, we have observed some states, regions that don’t enrol. Currently, we have over 70,000 applying to join, however, we have a way of balancing it so Nigerians can participate.”

Musa acknowledged the high expectations attached to his appointment and said he intends to deliver on national security obligations.

In his words, “I am also feeling the heat. I know that I cannot afford to fail myself, fail my nation, fail my family.”

The minister proposed engaging retired military personnel to support national security structures, noting that their decades of experience should not be wasted.

He said, “Some retirees have over 40 years of experience. They are very brilliant and committed, Let us utilize them.”

Musa concluded by attributing the persistence of terrorism and banditry to years of neglected security gaps, including weak coordination with communities and government structures.

He assured Nigerians and lawmakers that his leadership will prioritise closing these gaps to improve national safety.

God bless u Mr minister. Victory is ours.

GEN MUSA IS A MEMBER OF ADDGON (Association of Defeated and Disgraced generals of Nigeria)... Buratai is their chairman...
Musa is a showman, a TV talk show expert, a PR man, a Pressman........ BUT NOT A MILITARY TACTICIAN OF STRATEGISTS
The ADDGON members lacks honour or patriotism......They aid bad leadership to destroy the nation

Many will be hearing for the first time in this thread that Nigerian troops in conflict areas were up till now required to await a command before opening fire on terrorists. That delay in taking action as events dictate is part of the reason that Goliath Russia's military might has been unable to subdue Ukraine's little David armed forces.

Hopefully the new Minister of Defense will at the very least cooperate closely with US drone operators so as to optimize their decapitation missile strikes against known terror kingpins in northern Nigeria, AND their clandestine supporters.

Way to go. I'm sure with Musa in charge now as minister of defence, many bandits will die.

It was this statement that retired him. He is brave and I hope there will be political will to push through the orders

Hahahaha. People are hailing this man after all the grammar in the senate

Tire wey don burst, different vulcanizers dey promise heaven and earth how to pump it. The owner keep getting hope not knowing that the target is his money

The shooting on sight is good..

I can smell success already..

No place for terrorist in Nigeria..

Nice.

He has said he won't negotiate with bandits

Jakumo:
Many will be hearing for the first time in this thread that Nigerian troops in conflict areas were up till now required to await a command before opening fire on terrorists. That delay in taking action as events dictate is part of the reason that Goliath Russia's military might has been unable to subdue Ukraine's little David armed forces.

Hopefully the new Minister of Defense will at the very least cooperate closely with US drone operators so as to optimize their decapitation missile strikes against known terror kingpins in northern Nigeria, AND their clandestine supporters.

So you believe Russian troops wait for order before they shoot. The same troops that have right to call in drone strikes without passing through chain of command.

Brilliantly said our new Defence Minister. Wish you well in your new role

Be careful to whom to shoot on sight because the terrorists has now trooped down to the east Owerri to be precise

Audio shoot on sight.

They should show result, and not propaganda.

Masterstroke4:
Shoot On Sight, Wait For No Order—New Defence Minister Charges Troops

The newly appointed Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd), has ordered troops to engage armed bandits immediately on sight without waiting for further directives.

Musa, during his Senate screening on Wednesday, said this instruction was essential for frontline protection and for restoring confidence in the country’s security efforts.

Musa issued the directive while responding to lawmakers’ concerns about command delays during encounters with insurgents.

He explained that military personnel automatically assume the mandate to kill armed criminals once deployed to conflict zones.

According to him, troops must rely on their training and instincts to protect themselves, their colleagues, and the communities under their watch.

He said, “And for the troop, every personnel member that is deployed knows why they’re deployed. You are to engage any criminal or any bandit that is armed and about to kill you. You don’t have to wait.

“Somebody’s aiming to shoot at you, you’re waiting for orders, from who? Once you are deployed, you automatically have that responsibility.”

Musa added that troops cannot claim they are awaiting authorisation when confronting imminent danger.

He continued, “Your colleague is to be shot and you know, there is no other way of stopping it, other than to kill the person. You are to secure the community or property you are protecting, and this they all know.

“So if any member of the armed forces deployed anywhere tells you that he’s waiting for an order, he is lying and he’s only a coward.

“There is nothing like he’s waiting for any order. The order is automatic. He’s briefed before he’s deployed. And I think that it is very important that we be able to bridge that gap.”

Musa also disclosed that the defence ministry plans to withdraw soldiers from routine checkpoints and redeploy them to active conflict zones.

He said the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps would take over checkpoint operations, allowing soldiers to confront insurgents in difficult terrain.

He stated, “What we want to do is withdraw all personnel and military men from all checkpoints and let the police and civil defence handle those aspects.

“These will enable the military men to go into the bushes and take out these criminals, wherever they are as it’s important.

“Farmers must be able to go back to their farms… If people can’t eat, you can imagine what will happen.”

Musa stressed the need for continuous collaboration between security agencies to secure food-producing communities and restore agricultural activities disrupted by violence.

Addressing rising concerns around mass killings across regions, Musa described the situation as one that affects every Nigerian.

He said, “People are killed, people are dying. That’s why it’s important, that we must come together and it is when we allow them to have gaps that they penetrate.

“They don’t care who they kill. A bunch of evil people that are on drugs… no Nigerians must be killed for whatever reason.”

On military recruitment, Musa said the ministry is strengthening background checks to prevent sabotage and ensure that only committed applicants are enlisted.

He observed that some applicants avoid postings to conflict areas, while some states contribute fewer recruits to the national pool.

He stated, “On the issue of saboteurs normally we recruit from the society. Recruitments are going to be thorough which brings us back to the use of a database.

“A lot of people now because there is war, even in the military you find some people not willing to go to where there are conflicts.

“Again, we have observed some states, regions that don’t enrol. Currently, we have over 70,000 applying to join, however, we have a way of balancing it so Nigerians can participate.”

Musa acknowledged the high expectations attached to his appointment and said he intends to deliver on national security obligations.

In his words, “I am also feeling the heat. I know that I cannot afford to fail myself, fail my nation, fail my family.”

The minister proposed engaging retired military personnel to support national security structures, noting that their decades of experience should not be wasted.

He said, “Some retirees have over 40 years of experience. They are very brilliant and committed, Let us utilize them.”

Musa concluded by attributing the persistence of terrorism and banditry to years of neglected security gaps, including weak coordination with communities and government structures.

He assured Nigerians and lawmakers that his leadership will prioritise closing these gaps to improve national safety.

All na washy washy na today?

E be like say the package Nigeria ordered from Amazon finally arrived in the person of the new Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa.

We need a ruthless man in the fight against insurgents and terrorists in Nigeria. I have often said that using a typical Muslim man from the North that has shown soft spot for terrorists in the past is like using an Armed robber to guard your house. If Tinubu was smart, he ought to have known this in his appointments. Security report on an individual occupying sensitive position in governance is very important. You got it wrong from day one by making wrong appointments and you're bound to fail.

if you look at the Nigerian map you can see these criminals have a strong hold on 60% of Nigeria.....
the military should start with states close to the border with joint efforts from chad , Niger and cameroun ensuring these insurgents dont flee into thier country.
secondly the military need to immobilize these insurgents they need to cut out transportation supplies (fuel and diesel)
i mean only the military should have access to fuel and diesel...
3rdly deploy heavy military presence in the border states im talking of tanks and apc that would be used for rapid advancement coupled with air support and surveillance.
4thly i believe we have military in every state in Nigeria...
lets say we start with sokoto ,kebbi and niger
as the military starts the push in sokoto same should start in kebbi and niger this would push the insurgents to states like zamfara katsina and kaduna...
as this push is happening on the left flank it should also be happening on the right flanks also simultaneously...
5thly the Air Force and the navy should take total control of the air and sea i know there would be civilian casualties cus our airforce precision is poor but proper intel and surveillance would reduce such casualties.
6thly drugs like
methamphetamine and Pervitin should be added to food supply e get why but controlled to reduce harmful effects.
7th if things works according to plans this would push these idiots to north central and they would try to blend with civilians
then the mop up operation should begin by ground troops....
8th the military should cut out movement from the north to other part of the country with road blocks and air surveillance day and night.

thisisit:
GEN MUSA IS A MEMBER OF ADDGON (Association of Defeated and Disgraced generals of Nigeria)... Buratai is their chairman...
Musa is a showman, a TV talk show expert, a PR man, a Pressman........ BUT NOT A MILITARY TACTICIAN OF STRATEGISTS
The ADDGON members lacks honour or patriotism......They aid bad leadership to destroy the nation

I can believe anything, but not this crap. Thank you.

President Buhari gave this same orders but nothing changed 🤷🏿, he said shoot anyone carrying AK-47.

Heffalump:
E be like say the package Nigeria ordered from Amazon finally arrived in the person of the new Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa.

We need a ruthless man in the fight against insurgents and terrorists in Nigeria. I have often said that using a typical Muslim man from the North that has shown soft spot for terrorists in the past is like using an Armed robber to guard your house. If Tinubu was smart, he ought to have known this in his appointments. Security report on an individual occupying sensitive position in governance is very important. You got it wrong from day one by making wrong appointments and you're bound to fail.

I never expected Tinubu to fail in security because of his street credibility, sadly he did worse till USA had to come in . He will be ruthless now because of he's reelection bid

Gotocourt:
I never expected Tinubu to fail in security because of his street credibility, sadly he did worse till USA had to come in . He will be ruthless now because of he's reelection bid

Remi Tinubu is in charge. Not Bola.

All government officials should be banned from negotiating from terrorist. Just like we've been seeing local government chairman, house of assembly members, clerics and Governors.

SpecialAdviser:
Hahahaha. People are hailing this man after all the grammar in the senate

Tire wey don burst, different vulcanizers dey promise heaven and earth how to pump it. The owner keep getting hope not knowing that the target is his money

I know say u go soon call y’all bros for forest, to tell am say yawa dey come o.

This is a welcome development.
All bandits terrorists should be smoked on site before asking or answering any questions.

We need peace in Nigeria.

Orlandoo:
Remi Tinubu is in charge. Not Bola.

See the kind nonsense Orlando owoh is yapping?

After u go say something no dey worry u.

Burob:
See the kind nonsense Orlando owoh is yapping?

After u go say something no dey worry u.

I bet they celebrated the day you were born? Hmmm.

slivertongue:
It was this statement that retired him. He is brave and I hope there will be political will to push through the orders

Really, when did he say this B4?

Orlandoo:
I bet they celebrated the day you were born? Hmmm.

Most definitely dey grieved on yours.

Gumi and his wailing party will soon call a press conference to opposes the new policy

Burob:
Most definitely dey grieved on yours.

My thought and prayers are with you. It is a pity.

Orlandoo:
My thought and prayers are with you. It is a pity.

Even the Archbishop of Nigeria’s prayers, & Adegboye’s will not be sufficient for u Orlando Owoh.