Terrorists’ attacks : Defence chief urges Nigerian govt to fence border with Niger Republic

Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has raised concerns over the porous nature of the nation’s border with the Niger Republic, describing it as the most vulnerable entry point for terrorist infiltration.

He advocated for the immediate construction of a border fence to bolster national security.

Speaking during an interview on Arise News on Thursday, General Musa emphasized that extremist groups, including Boko Haram and ISWAP, have continued to exploit Nigeria’s unsecured northern border for access into the country.

“The reason is because, having gone through my analysis and looking at the Sahel, the main attraction to all these terrorists and bandits is Nigeria,” Musa said.

He explained that Nigeria’s strategic location in the Sahel region, combined with ideological differences between Nigeria and its Francophone neighbors, makes it a prime target for regional terror groups.

“Because this perception is, there were attacks from Burkina Faso… in Benin Republic, it’s just 50 kilometers to Nigeria. That is another area,” he added.

“So for me, I think, and like I mentioned, all around us, we have Francophone countries. Our ideologies are not the same. For us to be secure, it is important, let us fence our borders,” Musa stated.

Addressing questions about the financial implications of building a border barrier, the Defence Chief argued that security should take precedence over cost considerations.

“Some people say, look, it’s expensive. I say, what is money if you are dead? So countries that have sat down, I have analyzed and seen that, look, strategically it’s important, because once you fence that area, you use technology.

“Now you have cameras, you have drones. It reduces the manpower you need to engage in that area, and they could be used elsewhere. So that’s important,” he said.

He specifically pointed to the border with Niger Republic as the most urgent priority.

“And the most critical one for us now even if we want to start let’s start with Nigeria and Niger [border]. That’s the most dangerous because… that’s where they’re coming in. The Boko Haram are coming in from the Sahel. The ISWAP guys are coming in all through those areas. So that’s why it’s critical.”

Musa further proposed a phased, decentralised model for the construction of the fence, allowing individual states to initiate work simultaneously.

“If we start from there and we can start state-wise at the same time, each state will start on its own, and before you know it, we’re there,” he noted.

His remarks come amid a troubling surge in violent attacks across Nigeria. In one of the latest incidents, over 200 people were reportedly killed in Yelwata community, Benue State. According to Musa, the perpetrators are suspected to be foreign militants who may have entered through the country’s unsecured borders.