Just In: Nigerian Army Mentions Reason for Increased Bandit Attacks, Killings Nationwide

• Defence Chief Gen. Musa linked rising bandit attacks to political manoeuvring ahead of 2027, accusing politicians of fuelling insecurity to discredit govt
• He revealed terror financing is backed by local and foreign sources, with arrests and prosecutions ongoing despite legal bottlenecks
• Musa stressed need for special terrorism courts, advanced technology, and local defence production to cut costs and strengthen Nigeria’s security response

The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has linked the recent surge in killings and bandit attacks across Nigeria to political manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 general election.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, August 21, the Defence Chief said some politicians were deliberately fuelling insecurity to discredit the government.

“Criminals, both bandits and terrorists, work together. They have a common goal to make money and destabilise communities. But there is also a political angle. Some individuals don’t want peace because when there is peace, the government is seen to be doing well. When there is no peace, the government is seen to be failing,” Musa said.

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He questioned the logic behind such actions, adding:

“Last year, we recorded the lowest number of deaths. How come this year, suddenly, everything has spiked? Politics is coming, the election is coming. Some people are controlling these criminals to ensure governance is discredited. But the funny thing is, how do you kill the people you want to govern? What do you gain from it?”

Terrorism financing under investigation, says CDS

General Musa revealed that terrorism in Nigeria is being sustained through both local and foreign funding, Punch reported.

He disclosed that the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), the Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) are tracking terror financiers.

“The process of naming terrorism financiers is on. Just last week, the AGF and others went to check. It has to do with legal issues and international connections. Some of them get funds from outside. Arrests have been made, and prosecutions have started. Those behind the Owo bombing are already facing trial,” he explained.

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Army: Legal bottlenecks hindering justice

The Defence Chief lamented that Nigeria’s legal system was frustrating terrorism prosecutions, Vanguard reported

“Sometimes you take evidence to court, and it is knocked out for one reason or another. Our laws need to be stringent, even for terrorism. Once people know they can get away with anything, impunity sets in,” Musa stated.

He called for special courts to handle terrorism cases, stressing that justice must be swift and deterrent.

The Defence Chief added that Nigeria was collaborating with neighbouring countries under the Alliance of Sahel States to curb cross-border terrorism.

Army bemoans high cost of security

General Musa further highlighted the high cost of security operations, worsened by the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

“The price of a medium-range precision weapon is $100,000 each. How many can you buy in Naira? So you have to be very careful where you use it. Just last two weeks, we killed over 100 of them on 50 motorcycles with a drone strike. That was a good strike,” he revealed.

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He stressed the need for real-time satellite technology and locally produced military equipment, noting that President Bola Tinubu had signed the Defence Industrial Bill to encourage in-country production.

“With this bill, we can invite original equipment manufacturers and begin production here in Nigeria. That way, we get more value for money and reduce reliance on foreign supplies,” Musa concluded.

Troops kill over 300 top bandit leaders, says Ribadu

Previously, Legit.ng reported that the Nigerian Army killed more than 300 top bandit leaders in a series of targeted operations, marking a major milestone in the country’s fight against terrorism and armed criminality.

This was revealed by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, during an interview with the BBC, where he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to restoring peace across troubled parts of the country.

Proofreading by James Ojo, copy editor at Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng