Defence Minister Orders Troops to Shoot Armed Bandits on Sight, Ends Nationwide Military Checkpoints
Defence Minister Orders Troops to Shoot Armed Bandits on Sight, Ends Nationwide Military Checkpoints
The newly appointed Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd), has issued a tough new directive authorising troops deployed in conflict zones to engage armed bandits immediately on sight, insisting that no additional orders are required before opening fire in life-threatening situations.
Musa made the declaration on Wednesday during his ministerial screening before the Senate, in response to concerns raised by lawmakers over delays recorded during military confrontations with insurgent groups in several states.
Troops Have Automatic Mandate
Addressing senators, the minister clarified that personnel already have legal and operational clearance to neutralise armed threats in violent environments. He warned that troops claiming to be “waiting for orders” during direct confrontation are acting outside established military doctrine.
According to him, hesitation under fire puts communities, fellow troops and entire operations at risk.
“Once you are deployed, you automatically have the responsibility to engage any criminal or bandit who is armed and poses a threat. There is nothing like waiting for an order,” General Musa said.
Soldiers to Withdraw From Checkpoints
General Musa further announced an imminent withdrawal of soldiers from routine checkpoints across the country. Henceforth, the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) will take over highway duties, while the military focuses almost entirely on forest and rural operations against armed groups.
“We want police and civil defence to handle checkpoints so that the military can go into the bushes and take out these criminals,” he explained, stressing that securing farmlands was a major national priority.
Food Security and Community Protection
The minister lamented the rising number of attacks on farming communities, warning that sustained insecurity would damage food production and worsen economic hardship. He called for deeper intelligence sharing among security agencies and stronger community participation to prevent infiltration by bandits and insurgents.
Recruitment Concerns and Sabotage
Speaking on recruitment, Musa disclosed that over 70,000 Nigerians applied to join the armed forces, but many either reject deployment to high-risk areas or attempt to undermine operations.
He revealed that some states contribute fewer recruits, prompting the ministry to introduce advanced background screening, database verification and expanded intelligence checks to eliminate saboteurs within the system.
Retired Officers to Be Re-engaged
General Musa also proposed the deployment of retired senior military officers with decades of experience to support current security structures, saying their expertise “must not be allowed to waste.”
Fixing Long-Standing Security Gaps
The Defence Minister attributed the persistence of terrorism and banditry to years of weak coordination and limited community partnerships, promising that his leadership would prioritise structural reforms to rebuild public confidence in national security institutions.
“I cannot afford to fail my nation,” Musa concluded, stressing the urgent expectations surrounding his appointment.
