Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), has issued a sweeping shoot-on-sight directive to security personnel engaged in counter-terrorism and anti-banditry operations, declaring that troops must not wait for orders before engaging armed criminals and that any operative who hesitates under the guise of awaiting instructions will be treated as an accomplice to the enemy. Musa delivered the directive on Wednesday, 8 July 2026, in Sokoto during the commissioning of security assets procured by the Sokoto State Government, a moment he used to recalibrate the rules of engagement for Nigeria’s ongoing war against insurgency and banditry.
Addressing military personnel and other security operatives at the Giginya Memorial Stadium, the Defence Minister was unequivocal in his message. “Once you are deployed, do not wait for any order from anybody to shoot any bandit or any terrorist,” he declared. “Anybody who refuses to shoot or kill any bandit or terrorist in the name of waiting for an order, we will treat you like a bandit. This is a general order.” The directive, which Musa described as a “general order,” effectively removes any ambiguity about the authority of troops to engage armed criminals on sight, signalling a significant escalation in the Federal Government’s approach to the security crisis gripping large swathes of the country.
The minister’s warning was stark and uncompromising. He stressed that security personnel deployed to operational theatres must act decisively whenever they encounter terrorists or bandits, and that failure to do so would be viewed as collaboration with the enemy. “I want to make that very loud and clear,” Musa said, according to multiple accounts of the event. “Anybody who refuses to shoot or kill any bandit or terrorist in the name of his waiting for an order, we will treat you like a bandit.” The former Chief of Defence Staff also reminded troops that the weapons and equipment provided to them were procured with public funds and must be used effectively to protect lives and property, not as instruments of intimidation or extortion.
The directive came as the Sokoto State Government unveiled a N27.6 billion security intervention package comprising armoured personnel carriers, tactical vehicles, and 300 motorcycles to strengthen security operations across the state. Governor Ahmed Aliyu said the procurement represents one of the state’s largest security investments, aimed at enhancing the operational capacity of security agencies in tackling banditry, terrorism, kidnapping and other violent crimes. According to the governor, the intervention forms part of his administration’s broader strategy to restore peace and protect lives and property, particularly in border communities and rural areas affected by insecurity. He noted that security remains the foundation for sustainable development, adding that economic growth, agriculture and social progress cannot thrive in an atmosphere of fear and instability.
Aliyu said the newly acquired armoured vehicles and motorcycles would improve rapid response, intelligence gathering, surveillance and troop mobility, especially in difficult terrains. He appreciated President Bola Tinubu, the Armed Forces and other security agencies for their continued support in combating insecurity, pledging that the state would sustain investments that complement federal security efforts. The governor also commended General Musa for his leadership and commitment to the fight against terrorism and banditry. In recognition of his contributions to national security, Aliyu inaugurated a major road in the Sokoto metropolis and named it General Christopher Musa Road.
Responding, Musa praised the Sokoto State Government for prioritising security, describing the investment as a demonstration of visionary leadership and commitment to public safety. He said the fight against insecurity requires collaboration among the federal, state and local governments, as well as active support from citizens. The Defence Minister noted that the newly commissioned assets would enhance operational effectiveness and boost the morale of security personnel deployed across Sokoto State and the wider North-West region. He also urged residents to continue providing credible intelligence to security agencies, stressing that community participation remains vital to addressing emerging security threats.
The minister, however, cautioned personnel against the misuse or poor maintenance of the newly acquired assets. “This equipment costs billions of naira. We don’t want to hand them over and then you throw them away or mishandle them. They must serve the purpose for which they were procured,” he said. While encouraging security operatives to remain resolute in the fight against criminality, Musa reminded them that their responsibility was to protect law-abiding citizens and not to intimidate or exploit them. “You are not to go there and extort or harass the people. You are there to protect them and work with them to eliminate bandits and terrorists operating within your area,” he added.
Musa’s directive comes at a time when Nigeria’s North-West and North-East regions are grappling with escalating violence from bandits and terrorists who have continued to terrorise communities, abduct schoolchildren, and disrupt agricultural activities. The minister’s order effectively strips away any bureaucratic delay that might have previously hampered rapid response in combat situations, reflecting a growing frustration within the security establishment over the pace of operations against armed groups. His warning that hesitation would be treated as complicity is intended to instill a more aggressive posture among troops and signal to criminal elements that the military is operating under a zero-tolerance framework.
The ceremony, which was attended by senior military officers, security chiefs, traditional rulers, government officials and residents, ended with the inspection and symbolic handover of the security assets to relevant security agencies. Participants described the intervention as a major boost to Sokoto State’s security architecture and the national campaign against insecurity. As the Defence Minister himself put it: “This event is not merely the unveiling of security assets. It is a demonstration of strategic leadership, responsible governance and our collective determination to strengthen the security architecture of Sokoto State and Nigeria as a whole.”
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