Musa emphasized that the challenges Nigeria faces in the fight against terrorism are largely due to the nature of the conflict, particularly asymmetric warfare.
Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, on Tuesday said no state or locality in the country has been taken over by criminal elements, following concerns over the escalating activities of terrorists in various regions.
Speaking on Channels TV, he addressed the complexities of combating terrorism, particularly in the northwest, where he noted the involvement of local communities in initially supporting some terrorist groups
Addressing concerns about terrorism and insurgency, Musa emphasized that the challenges Nigeria faces in the fight against terrorism are largely due to the nature of the conflict, particularly asymmetric warfare.
"The terrorists are usually civilians, which makes it easier for them to blend into the community," Musa explained, citing the example of the Lakurawa community in the Northwest, where terrorists had been invited by locals in 2018.
Tensions escalated when the terrorists turned on the communities, resulting in violence.
Musa also highlighted the difficulty of combating ideologically driven groups, noting that "ideologies are not something you can see on people's foreheads".
He, however, said that while there are ungoverned spaces, particularly in forests and the Lake Chad region, no community or local government is under terrorist control.
In terms of combating terrorism, Musa assured the public that the Nigerian military continues to collaborate with local communities.
"We encourage communities to raise well-mannered youth to help us identify where terrorists hide their weapons," he said.
The Chief of Defence Staff also touched on the ongoing Operation Safe Corridor in Gombe, where over 120,000 individuals, many of whom were reportedly conscripted into terrorist groups against their will, have “surrendered and been rehabilitated”.
Musa stressed the importance of understanding that not all individuals involved in terrorism are active participants, with many being forced into the conflict.
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