The Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, General Christopher Musa, has revealed that over 200,000 terrorists have surrendered to the Nigerian military in the North East.
He attributed this achievement to a combined application of kinetic and non-kinetic strategies in the fight against insurgency.
General Musa made the disclosure during the Security and Justice Symposium, organised by the Office of the National Security Adviser in partnership with the British High Commission.
The two-day event commenced on Tuesday at the National Counter Terrorism Centre in Abuja.
The symposium, themed “Securing Peace, Ensuring Justice, Protection, Conduct and Accountability,” aimed to address the complexities of Nigeria’s security challenges.
The Defence Chief explained that kinetic strategies involve direct military operations, while non-kinetic approaches address the root causes of insecurity, such as poverty and unemployment.
“The issues we are facing today relate to fairness, equity, justice, and accountability. Without justice, there will be no peace,” he stated.
General Musa emphasised that non-kinetic measures, such as strategic communication and community engagement, account for over 70 per cent of the success in the counter-insurgency operations.
He further identified informants and suppliers of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) as critical enablers of terrorism, describing them as the “oxygen” that sustains insurgency, particularly in the North East and North West.
“We have to look at how we tackle this issue of informants. Because these are the people who have created the issue. Those supporting the terrorists by giving them logistics, we have to look for the oxygen,” the CDS stated.
“Where is the funding? How are they getting the logistics across? As the theatre commander in the Northeast, we found out that if we can deny them this logistics, this oxygen, they will not survive.
“We did that, and that’s why you have almost 200,000 that have surrendered. So, I think if we replicate that all over, we will have very good results. It is also very important that we work together as a team. All security agencies.”
He called for innovative solutions to combat these threats and stressed the need for cooperation among all security agencies.
National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu highlighted the importance of collaboration between security and justice institutions, stating that the symposium was an opportunity to examine successes, challenges, and opportunities in counter-insurgency operations.
The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Richard Montgomery, commended Nigeria’s balanced approach to tackling insurgency and called for adherence to international humanitarian law.
The symposium provided a platform for key stakeholders to discuss strategies for ensuring peace, justice, and accountability, while highlighting the military’s progress in the fight against terrorism.
- Osimhen Fires Nigeria into 2026 World Cup African Playoffs - October 14, 2025
- FG Approves New Admission Criteria for Tertiary Institutions - October 14, 2025
- Evangelist Uma Ukpai Dies at 80 - October 13, 2025