Withdrawal of Soldiers from Checkpoints**
The newly appointed Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd), has ordered troops to engage armed bandits immediately upon sight, without waiting for further directives. During his Senate screening on Wednesday, Musa stated that this instruction is essential for frontline protection and for restoring confidence in the nation’s security efforts.
Musa issued this directive in response to lawmakers’ concerns about delays in command during encounters with insurgents. He explained that military personnel automatically assume the responsibility to neutralize 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 they serve. He remarked, “Every personnel member deployed knows their mission. You are to confront any armed criminal who poses a threat to you. You don’t have to wait for orders. If someone is aiming a weapon at you, should you really be waiting for instructions? Once deployed, you automatically have that responsibility.”
Musa emphasized that troops cannot claim they are waiting for authorization when facing imminent danger. He continued, “If your colleague is about to be shot and you know the only way to stop it is to eliminate the threat, you must act to secure the community or property you are protecting. This is common knowledge among all personnel.
“So if any member of the armed forces deployed anywhere tells you that they’re waiting for an order, they are lying and are simply being cowardly. There is no waiting for an order; the order is implicit. They are briefed before deployment, and it is crucial that we bridge this gap in understanding.”
Musa also announced plans to withdraw soldiers from routine checkpoints and redeploy them to active conflict zones. He stated that the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps would take over checkpoint operations, allowing soldiers to confront insurgents in more challenging environments.
He concluded, “We want to withdraw all military personnel from checkpoints and allow the police and civil defence to handle those duties. This will enable our troops to go into the field and eliminate these criminals, wherever they may be.”
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