The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, has advocated for the fencing of Nigeria’s borders as a vital step toward tackling the nation’s worsening insecurity.
He recently said that Nigeria’s porous borders being constantly exploited by terrorists is why the country has been far from safe.
Speaking during an interview with Arise TV, Gen. Musa revealed that several criminal groups keep taking advantage of the weak borders to smuggle in weapons/fighters, and that cannot be allowed to continue.
Confirming that the terrorists even use sophisticated surveillance tools like drones, the General disclosed that Nigeria is presently being viewed as an easy target for their evil intentions.
“After analyzing the security situation across the Sahel, it’s clear that Nigeria is a major target for terrorists and bandits. They perceive us as a wealthy country with weak enforcement at our borders.
To secure the nation, we must fence our borders. Some may say it’s expensive, but what is money if lives are being lost?” he said.
Gen. Musa advised that the fencing should start in highly vulnerable areas, especially along the Niger-Nigeria border, insisting that locally sourced materials like steel from Ajaokuta should be employed.
He called for integrated surveillance systems, including wire mesh barriers and drone technology, to boost border security and aid the creation of local jobs.
Reacting to the recent deadly attack in Benue State’s Yelwata community, where over 150 people were reportedly killed, the Defence Chief announced that suspects have been arrested and investigations remain ongoing in partnership with the police and Department of State Services (DSS).
He concluded by saying that the Benue massacre is not just a farmer-herder dispute, stressing that political manipulation, terrorism, land grabbing, and retaliatory killings are at play as well.
“The police have arrested a number of suspects, and investigations are underway. As law-abiding officials, we must ensure we have the right evidence and processes in place.
A criminal is a criminal. Anyone who commits a crime should be prosecuted. That hasn’t always happened, and it’s a major issue.
True peace will only come when political, religious, and community leaders allow for law enforcement, promote reconciliation, and commit to joint security efforts.
We’ve neutralized nearly 80 Boko Haram commanders, but the problem persists because the borders are wide open. There’s a free flow of weapons from conflict zones like Sudan, Libya, and Mali, and extreme poverty and illiteracy continue to fuel recruitment.
We’ve seen insurgents using drones and other advanced tools. But after recent setbacks about five weeks ago, we’ve re-strategized. As of now, they are on the run, and we’ve taken out many operatives,” he added.
