Newly sworn-in defence minister declares war on kidnappers

Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa. Photo: State House

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Newly sworn-in Minister of Defence, Gen Christopher Musa (retd.), on Thursday, vowed rapid gains against insecurity, saying Nigerians would see results in the shortest possible time as he rebuilds synergy across the security architecture.

Musa particularly stated that he has a mandate to go after kidnappers, bandits, criminals and ensure that Nigerians can be in schools, farms and their homes with fear of being attacked.

He also pledged to do “whatever it takes” to secure the lives of Nigerians.

“I can assure you, within the shortest possible time, Nigerians will see results,” Musa told State House correspondents after he took the oath of office before President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.

The new defence minister said he would restore and improve synergy within the armed forces and among security agencies.

“My immediate priority is to make sure that defence takes its place fully in the country.

“The synergy between the armed forces and other security agencies is important. And [I will ensure that] all Nigerians are being carried along.

“As I have always said, security is everybody’s responsibility. It is that synergy that we need to build on and work on it, and that’s what we’re going to do,” he affirmed.

The former Chief of Defence Staff noted that he was returning to a familiar terrain, pledging to channel the goodwill he had received into tangible outcomes.

“I want to use this medium to appreciate all Nigerians.

“Nigerians have shown me love, and I will guarantee them that I am going to work whatever it takes to ensure that Nigeria is secure,” he said.

Musa also revealed that the President gave him a clear charge to deliver security that would be felt in homes, farms and schools nationwide.

He explained, “I just met Mr President, and he reiterated his mind on the aspect that we must make sure that Nigeria is secured.

“Nigerians should go back and sleep with their eyes closed. Go back to their farms. Schools open without being molested.

“Everyone will be carried together to make sure that Nigeria continues to grow in line with the Renewed Hope Programme of Mr President.”

Musa’s remarks came barely 24 hours after his five-hour Senate screening and confirmation on Wednesday.

He succeeded Mohammed Badaru, who served from August 28, 2023, until his resignation on December 1, 2025.

Thursday’s visit was Musa’s second visit to the Villa this week.

At 7:03 p.m. on Monday, Musa was seen being ushered in to see the President while Tinubu announced his nomination as minister the next day.

On Thursday, he arrived at about 3:47 p.m. to be sworn in as defence minister.

His appointment came barely two months after he retired in a broad shake-up of the military high command on October 24, 2025.

Gen Musa, 58, is a distinguished soldier who served as Chief of Defence Staff from 2023 until October 2025. He won the Colin Powell Award for Soldiering in 2012.

Born in Sokoto in 1967, Musa completed his early education locally before attending the College of Advanced Studies in Zaria.

He graduated in 1986 and enrolled at the Nigerian Defence Academy the same year, earning a Bachelor of Science degree upon graduation in 1991.

Musa was commissioned into the Nigerian Army as a Second Lieutenant in 1991 and has since had a distinguished career.

His appointments included General Staff Officer 1, Training/Operations at HQ 81 Division; Commanding Officer, 73 Battalion; Assistant Director, Operational Requirements, Department of Army Policy and Plans; and Infantry Representative/Member, Training Team, HQ Nigerian Army Armour Corps.

In 2019, he served as Deputy Chief of Staff, Training/Operations, Headquarters Infantry Centre and Corps; Commander, Sector 3, Operation Lafiya Dole; and Commander, Sector 3, Multinational Joint Task Force in the Lake Chad Region.

In 2021, Musa was appointed Theatre Commander, Operation Hadin Kai.

He later became Commander of the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps before being appointed Chief of Defence Staff by President Tinubu in 2023.

In his letter to the Senate, President Tinubu expressed confidence in Musa’s ability to lead the Ministry of Defence and strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture.

His return to the security council comes a month after the United States President Donald Trump redesignated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern and threatened to invade the country over the alleged mass killing of Christians.

It also comes amid a sharp rise in mass abductions and attacks across several states.

In the past fortnight, gunmen have stormed schools and worship centres in Kebbi, Niger and Kwara, kidnapping at least 490 persons.

Kukah expresses optimism

Catholic Archbishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, on Thursday backed Gen Musa (retd.), saying the Tinubu administration appeared set to “reposition” national security and restore calm across the country.

“It does seem very clear that the President wants to reposition issues of security, and I think the situation is in very good hands,” Kukah told State House correspondents after attending the swearing-in ceremony at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.

The cleric said he was at the Villa “wearing two caps,” as the Archbishop of Sokoto and as a representative of the Sultan of Sokoto.

He explained, “He was born in Sokoto, and I’m in Sokoto; he’s from Southern Kaduna, and I was born in Southern Kaduna,” he said, adding that the Sultan “knows I’m here and he brings his greetings.”

He argued that Nigeria’s problem was not in doubt and that it involved restoring normalcy “by any means possible.”

He said, “We just need restoration of normalcy in this country by any means possible. And I think that this job is in very good hands.”

He welcomed signals that the President intended to overhaul the security architecture.

Asked about Musa’s comments at his screening that terrorists required stricter measures, Kukah noted that, “We are on all fours as long as that is concerned, rain, thunder, sunshine, whatever it takes to get this mess under control.

“These guys need to be flushed out. Normalcy needs to return to our country. Laughter and joy have to come back to Nigeria within the shortest time possible; all we do is to pray for the best.”

Shinkafi hails Tinubu

A former governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Zamfara State, Sani Shinkafi, has commended the President for appointing and securing the confirmation of Gen Musa (retd.) as the new defence minister.

Shinkafi, who gave the commendation in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday, described the appointment as timely and “well deserved,” given the country’s worsening security challenges.

He also praised Tinubu for what he called a decisive move to reinvigorate the nation’s security architecture.

“It’s a well-deserved appointment, the right man for the job at this critical stage in the fight against terrorism, insurgency, banditry, militancy, secession and kidnapping for ransom.

“I commend President Bola Tinubu for the wise choice of Gen Musa as Minister of Defence. It demonstrates his resolve and unwavering commitment to crush terrorism and armed bandits in the country,” he stated.

The 2023 patron of the Tinubu–Shettima Presidential Campaign Council also hailed recent security directives by the President, including the declaration of a state of emergency on security, the recruitment of 100,000 personnel into the armed forces, and the withdrawal of police escorts from VIPs, as “giant steps in combating insecurity across the country.”

Among other things, Shinkafi demanded the outright scrapping of the Minister of State for Defence position, calling it “an aberration in military command” that fragments authority at a time when Nigeria needs unified leadership in its battle against insecurity.

“It will be inappropriate for Bello Matawalle to remain in office under Musa to avoid a personality clash. We cannot have two ministers running parallel administrations in the Ministry of Defence, especially now that the cooperation of every sector is needed to address the security challenges.

“Security experts are in one accord that the office of the Minister of State for Defence should be scrapped. It is time to get rid of it,” he argued.

The Executive Director of Patriots for Peace and Social Development argued that the leadership of the ministry should never be treated as a form of political compensation, insisting that only individuals with a strong military background can effectively coordinate national defence.

He expressed confidence in the military’s ability to restore peace if adequately funded and motivated.

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