Oga CDS, you failed in two years, By Emmanuel Onwubiko

“I’m afraid, based on my own experience, that fascism will come to America in the name of national security.
– Jim Garrison”

“We cannot continue to rely only on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives that we’ve set. We’ve got to have a civilian national security force that’s just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded.
– Barack Obama”

The Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff General Chris Gwabin  Musa had recently marked his two years in office with a media blitz in which he intended to shower himself with encomium for what he may have perceived as a job well done. Predictable, his media friends gave him the publicity he craved so much for and the impression they sought to promote is that he has done a terrific job.

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, said the media remains a powerful and central force in the fight against terrorism and insurgency in the country.

Musa stated this at the Expanded Chat with Media Executives on the occasion of his two years in office, on Thursday in Abuja.

He said the military had been contending with an array of adaptive and unconventional threats from non-state actors, including terrorism, insurgency, banditry, secessionist violence and other forms of organised crime.

He reiterated that the media reports on military operations had a significant impact on public perception and morale, both locally and internationally.

“In today’s battles, particularly against terrorism and insurgency, we are not only engaged in physical combat but also fighting a war for the hearts and minds of the people.

“In this non-kinetic theatre, the media is a powerful force.

He said that while kinetic operations were ongoing across all theatres, the military had also come to fully appreciate the importance of non-kinetic strategies, which according to him, constitute over 70 per cent of the efforts required in modern asymmetric warfare.

“In this context, the media is not just a supporting actor but a central player.

The truth is that the attempt by the CDS to paint a picture of success of his job is not entirely correct going by verifiable data and the constant global terrorism reports churned out by reputable global security agencies. These well established verifiable evidence-based reports, indicted Nigeria for the massive failures of military intelligence and failure of operational capabilities to protect the territorial integrity of Nigeria and prevent the killings of Nigerians. Nigerian Constitution says the primary duty of government is the protection of lives and property of citizens.

Here is one of the reports which clearly indicted the CDS. The report stated that Nigeria has ranked sixth in the 2025 Global Terrorism Index, with a score of 7.658, moving up from eighth place in 2023 and 2024.

According to the 2025 report released on March 5, the country recorded 565 terrorism-related deaths in 2024, indicating an increase in fatalities over the previous two years.

“Globally, deaths from terrorism have declined by almost a third since the peak in 2015, with Iraq and Nigeria recording the largest decreases. Deaths in Nigeria peaked at 2,101 in 2014, before dropping to 392 in 2022, the lowest level since 2011. However, fatalities increased by 34 per cent in 2023 to 533, and further to 565 in 2024.”

The report further explained that IS-Sahel has expanded its reach beyond its primary area of operation in the Liptako-Gourma region, which spans the borders of Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Nigeria. In 2024, the group launched a series of attacks across several countries, including Nigeria (16 attacks), Niger (12 attacks, Mali (6 attacks), and Burkina Faso (1 attack)

“Terrorism remains a persistent global threat, with 2024 marking another year of shifting patterns and evolving challenges. More countries experienced a deterioration in security, with 45 reporting an increased impact from terrorism, while only 34 saw improvements—the first time in seven years that more nations worsened than improved,” part of the report added.

It said the Sahel region has become the global epicentre of terrorism, accounting for 51 per cent of all terrorism-related deaths in 2024.

Aside the international  reports indicting the current military chiefs of failing in their onerous tasks of protecting the territorial integrity of Nigeria, on JUNE 24, 2025, the Nigerian Army high command confirmed the killing of 17 soldiers in a deadly attack by terrorists in Niger State. The truth is that dozens of soldiers have been killed by terrorists in the last two years.

Army spokesperson, Lt. Colonel Appolonia Anele, who confirmed the incident in a statement, noted that the deadly attack on communities by the terrorists was thwarted by the soldiers.

According to Anele, in a deliberate joint operation, troops of the Nigerian Army, in collaboration with the Air Component of the Nigerian Air Force, successfully thwarted an attempted incursion by terrorists into Bangi community in Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State on June 24, 2025.

“The operation, which was based on credible intelligence, led to troops engaging about 300 armed bandits in Kwanar Dutse Forest. The criminals had attempted a night-time transit towards Kwatankoro Forest, where they were reportedly planning coordinated attacks on surrounding communities or looking for a safe haven to evade the pressure from our operations in Zamfara State. However, their movement and actions were effectively disrupted by troops who engaged them in a fierce firefight that lasted over three hours.

Around the 3rd of SEPT, 2024 it was reported that at least 80 people have died and several are missing after an attack by suspected Boko Haram jihadists in Nigeria’s north-eastern Yobe state, local officials have reportedly said.

“Around 150 suspected Boko Haram terrorists armed with rifles and RPGs [rocket-propelled grenades] attacked Mafa ward on more than 50 motorcycles around 4pm on Sunday,” said Abdulkarim Dungus, a Yobe state police spokesperson, according to Agence France-Presse. “They killed many people and burned many shops and houses. We are yet to ascertain the actual number of those killed in the attack.”

Dungus said it appeared to be a revenge attack “for the killing of two Boko Haram terrorists by vigilantes from the village”.

Bulama Jalaluddeen, a local official, added: “From these figures it has been established that at least 81 people were killed in the attack.

On the 29th May, 2025, one of the most reputable organisations on earth, their Nigerian office headed and staffed by Nigerians, Amnesty International  raised the alarm over what it described as the Nigerian government’s failure to protect citizens from relentless attacks by armed groups and bandits, revealing that at least 10,217 people have been killed and 672 villages sacked in the past two years.

In a new report released on Wednesday, the human rights organisation said Benue State recorded the highest number of deaths with 6,896 people killed, followed by Plateau State with 2,630 deaths.
Other heavily affected states include Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara.

“A new investigation shows that, in the two years since the current government has been in power, at least 10,217 people have been killed in attacks by gunmen in Benue, Edo, Katsina, Kebbi, Plateau, Sokoto and Zamfara states.

“Benue State accounts for the highest death toll of 6,896, followed by Plateau state, where 2,630 people were killed.
“Since 29 May 2023, hundreds of people have been killed in rural areas where, our research since 2020 shows, a total absence of governance has given gunmen and criminal groups a free hand to commit atrocities.
“Our investigation verified the killing of over 294 people in Katsina state and documented the abduction of 306 people, mostly women and girls, between May 2023 and May 2025.” the report partly read.

In Zamfara, AI said no fewer than 529 villages are under the country of bandits.
“In Zamfara State, attacks have occurred daily, with multiple attacks sometimes taking place in a single day. In the last two years, over 273 people have been killed and 467 people abducted. Since the beginning of the bloody security crisis, bandits have sacked 481 villages across while
529 villages are under the control of bandits, across 13 local governments of Zamfara state,” It stated.

“In Plateau State, armed herders carried out 38 attacks. Bandits have sacked at least 43 villages
in four local government areas. Between 27 March and 2 April 2025,” the report added.
The Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Isa Sanusi, lamented that insecurity has been on the rise since the president took over.
He said, “Today marks exactly two years since President Bola Tinubu assumed office with a promise to enhance security. Instead, things have only gotten worse.
“The authorities continue to fail to protect the rights to life, physical integrity, liberty and the security of tens of thousands of people across the country.”
The organisation, however, warned of looming humanitarian crises as a result of the rising insecurity.

So, Oga Chief of Defence Staff, going through just a few of these statistics, the result is that you have failed in your duty to Nigeria for the two years that you were appointed as the Chief of Defence Staff.

You promised us since a year ago that you will capture Bello Turji the Fulani terrorists mastermind behind the killings of over 10, 000 Nigerians, but one year has passed but your promise failed to be realised. You told us a year ago that Bello Turji is on the run. But this is untrue because as recently as yesterday, Bello Turji killed over 100 citizens in Zamfara State. Both you the CDS, the service chiefs including the IGP, have shamelessly failed in your sacred mandates to Nigerians.

How does this make you feel that you would make public vow to catch Bello Turji and then you don’t go about achieving that? One year has gone since you boasted that you would arrest Bello Turji.

What of Plateau state and the mass killers made up mostly of Fulani herders who have killed over 5, 000 Plateau state natives?

How many of these terrorists have you captured. Why are you releasing terrorists with blood in their hands under the dubious pretension that they are repentant terrorists?

How have these killer terrorists repented and why undermine the Constitution by freeing these mass murderers without subjecting them to go through legally permissible prosecutions and punished severely for shedding the blood of Nigerians?

My verdict is that you failed miserably as the CDS of Nigeria in the last two years.  Let us interrogate the functions of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

The primary function of the Armed Forces of Nigeria is to
A. promote and protect the security of the nation
B. protect the head of state and commander in chief of the armed forces of the nation
C. protect the citizens against corrupt and oppressive politicians
D. project the country’s image by participating in peace keeping operations (source: myschool.ng).

So, how much has been blown away in Defence since the present administration came on board two years ago which is making two years of the appointment of the current CDS?

According to the document seen by SaharaReporters, the Ministry of Defence spent N1.973 trillion, the Ministry of Police Affairs spent N903.337 billion, and the Office of the National Security Adviser spent N515.4 billion during the same period. The Ministry of Interior received N391 billion in 2024.

A SaharaReporters’ review of the Open Treasury Portal has shown that the President Bola Tinubu-led administration spent N3.782 trillion on Defence, Police, Interior, and the Office of the National Security Adviser between January and December 2024.

According to the document, the Ministry of Defence spent N1.973 trillion, the Ministry of Police Affairs spent N903.337 billion, and the Office of the National Security Adviser spent N515.4 billion during the same period. The Ministry of Interior received N391 billion in 2024.

In total, N3.782 trillion was spent by the Defence Ministry, Police Affairs Ministry, Interior Ministry, and the Office of the National Security Adviser in 2024.
(source: SaharaReporters).

A review of the empirical data officially published by the federal government of Nigeria in the area of expenditures on defence related issues, it is the truth that the government and by extension the Chief of Defence Staff General Chris Gwabin Musa has failed abysmally.

*EMMANUEL NNADOZIE ONWUBIKO IS the founder of the HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA and was NATIONAL COMMISSIONER OF THE NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION OF NIGERIA.