Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has explained why the fight against Boko Haram has dragged on for over 16 years, emphasizing the complexity of battling an unconventional enemy driven by ideology. He shared his thoughts during an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today on Friday.
Musa described the conflict as different from conventional wars where opposing forces fought for territory. “This Boko Haram thing is a lot, and for them to have succeeded for 16 years and are still fighting, how are they getting their funding? Who is sustaining them? They can’t just be doing things like that,” he said.
The general highlighted that the ideological foundation of Boko Haram makes it a challenging adversary. “You have to fight with people who have nothing to lose. It’s an ideology they have in their mind. They believe they are right and you are wrong. If they kill you, they think they’re getting blessings. If you kill them, they think they’re going to heaven. Absolutely, they have nothing to lose,” he explained.
Challenges in Identifying the Enemy
Musa stressed that one of the biggest hurdles in fighting Boko Haram is distinguishing members of the group from innocent civilians. “It’s not written on their forehead. How do you identify who is who? We obey international laws, but they don’t. They use human shields and mix with people because they know we can’t shoot,” he stated.
The general also noted the difficult balance soldiers must strike in such a situation. “If you make mistakes and kill innocent people, the country comes after you. If you don’t kill them, the people will come after you. It’s difficult on both sides,” he said.
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Efforts to Eliminate Corruption and Boost Capacity
Musa highlighted measures being taken to improve the army’s effectiveness, including addressing corruption in arms purchases. He assured Nigerians that the military is now working closely with the National Assembly to ensure transparency.
“There is no more corruption in arms purchase. We are working closely with the National Assembly. Oversight functions are being carried out. We have people coming to check what we are doing. We are very open, and I can bet you, we love this country and want to give our best,” Musa said.
He also spoke about the strides made in repairing and maintaining military equipment. “The 16 years of fighting Boko Haram has enabled us to build the capacity of our repair team, our engineers, and mechanics. Now, we can pick a completely burnt-down MRAPV, fix it, and put it back into work,” he revealed.
Plans to Produce Local Weapons
In a bid to reduce dependence on foreign arms, the military plans to start producing its own weapons. Musa said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s signing of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) bill has opened doors for partnerships with international manufacturers.
“With the signing of the DICON bill, we can now partner with original equipment manufacturers worldwide to produce weapons. We are already producing our ammunition and want to start producing our own weapons,” Musa said.
Despite the challenges, the Defence Chief expressed confidence in the military’s ability to overcome the insurgency. “We are committed to giving our best to this country,” he assured.