A former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher (retd.), has said that Nigeria remains a prime target for terrorist organisations because of its vast resources, regional influence and internal security vulnerabilities.
General Musa while responding to some questions from lawmakers, lamented the persistent wave of kidnappings, school attacks, and banditry across the country.
He warned that terrorists deliberately target Nigeria because they perceive the country as “rich and vulnerable.”
Earlier, a rowdy session erupted in the Senate on Wednesday as lawmakers fiercely resisted attempts to grant Musa, a “bow-and-go” treatment during his ministerial screening as Minister of Defence.
The Senate chamber became heated after Senator Sani Musa (Niger East) urged colleagues to allow the nominee to bow out after answering a few questions.
But several senators stood their ground, insisting that the nominee must face thorough interrogation, especially amid worsening insecurity nationwide.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, eventually intervened by rising to call the chamber to order, reminding lawmakers that Nigerians expected clarity and reassurance from the screening.
The retired military chief warned that Nigeria would continue to face coordinated attacks unless the country strengthened intelligence gathering, blocked illicit financial flows and addressed governance gaps exploited by terror groups.
According to him, terrorist networks view Nigeria as a “strategic prize” because of its population size, economic significance and geographical positioning in the Sahel–Gulf of Guinea corridor.
“Nigeria is too important for these groups to ignore,” he said.
“They see our territory as a gateway to West Africa, a recruitment hub, and a source of funding through illegal mining, kidnapping and smuggling.”
He explained that terror organisations thrive in areas where state presence is weak, noting that banditry, insurgency and separatist violence have persisted due to porous borders, limited policing capacity and political interference in security operations.
“The greatest enablers of terrorism in Nigeria remain corruption, poor border control and the proliferation of small arms. Until we fix these, we will remain vulnerable,” he added.
The ex-CDS also lamented the increasing collaboration among foreign extremist groups operating across the Sahel region.
He said that while Nigeria has made gains in degrading Boko Haram and ISWAP cells, the evolving alliances among terrorists pose fresh risks.
“What we are seeing today is a merger of ideologies and tactics. Groups share intelligence, weapons and logistics. This cross-border cooperation is what makes them bolder,” he noted.
He urged the Federal Government to invest more in technology-driven surveillance, enhance inter-agency cooperation, and prioritise community-based intelligence systems.
The former defence chief also called for transparent management of security funds and a review of Nigeria’s counter-terrorism strategy to reflect current realities.
“Terrorism is no longer a local problem—it is a global business with local franchise operators,” he warned.
“If Nigeria does not adapt quickly, the threat will become more complex and more devastating.”
He appealed to political leaders, traditional rulers and civil society groups to unite against extremism, stressing that the fight against terrorism requires a whole-of-society approach rather than reliance on the military alone.
'
'Do you want to share a story with us? Do you want to advertise with us? Do you need publicity for a product, service, or event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348183319097 Email: platformtimes@gmail.com
We are committed to impactful investigative journalism for human interest and social justice. Your donation will help us tell more stories. Kindly donate any amount HERE
