Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, on Thursday raised alarm over the deepening insecurity crisis in the Sahel region, warning that the conflict poses a major threat to Nigeria’s security and stability.
Urging greater regional cooperation to confront insurgents and criminal groups who exploit porous borders, General Musa stressed that Nigeria’s security challenges cannot be solved by unilateral action.
“The crisis in the Sahel is intensifying, and the enemies we face do not respect national borders,” he said. “If we hold on to our borders alone, we will continue to suffer. But if we unite and work across, it makes it better.”
The CDS spoke at the closing ceremony of Exercise HASKE BIYU 2025, a national problem-solving platform hosted by the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), Jaji, Kaduna State.
The exercise, with theme “Family and National Security,” focused on resolving national security issues using a whole-of-society approach, highlighted the critical role family units play in maintaining national security and stability.
General Musa, who cited the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in Chad as a model of envisaged defence and regional cooperation, noted that collaboration between neighbouring countries had proven effective in combating insurgents who move freely across borders.
He insisted that such partnerships remain essential to restoring peace in the region.
“At the end of the day, the only thing we must do is to look for the bad guys and take them out. That is the only way we can have peace,” he declared.
The Defence Chief also highlighted the need for civil-military cooperation, urging local communities to deny criminals safe havens. “Once communities deny these elements the ability to stay, they will not be able to stand,” he explained.
General Musa warned personnel to remain professional, free of corruption and partisan influence, stressing that discipline and integrity were key to defeating armed groups.
Participants at Exercise HASKE BIYU 2025 were drawn from student officers of Senior Course 47/2024 of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, Ministries, Departments and Agencies. Others include the media, Non-governmental organisations, strategic partners and other professional groups.
According to the organisers, the participants are expected to use the exercise to acquire requisite knowledge on national problem-solving strategies and enhanced inter-agency collaboration in resolving national security issues using a whole-of-society approach.
