General Christopher Musa, Nigeria’s Chief of Defenve Staff, has responded to Senator Ali Ndume’s suggestions regarding bringing in the services of military contractors to combat Boko Haram in the country, firmly stating that ” it is not an option.”
In an interview with ARISE NEWS on Thursday, Musa underscored that military contractors would not provide a viable solution, arguing that the funds allocated for their services could be better spent on equipping the Nigerian military itself.
The senator for Borno South Senatorial District, Ali Ndume, had earlier advised President Tinubu to employ the services of military contractors to wipe out Boko Haram terrorists in Borno State, who continue to pose a threat to the region. Ndume hailed the gallant performance of the military and Civilian JTF, but said they were ill-equipped to carry out the task of eliminating the remaining insurgents operating within the region.
“I understand Senator Ndume is trying to look at options but for us, it is not an option. We are doing a lot of joint training with the Americans, the European Union to build capacity in order to project this war. The war we are facing is not conventional warfare where you know where the enemy is.
“These guys are highly mobile and once you go after them, their informants would give them up-to-date information about your movement, your capabilities and they blend in as quickly as possible. Military contractors is not the solution. The money we are going to spend, because we are going to pay them heavily, why not use that money and equip your own military?” Musa remarked.
Describing the tactics employed by insurgents, General Musa noted the difficulties of identifying non-state actors who often blend seamlessly into civilian populations.
“Asymmetric warfare is a very difficult operation because you are dealing with non-state actors,” he stated, adding that insurgents typically drop their weapons and merge with civilians upon detection.
He also acknowledged that adherence to human rights principles often prolongs military operations, as the Nigerian forces strive to avoid collateral damage, prioritising the safety of civilians.
“One of the reasons this campaign has been prolonged is because we are obeying human rights. We try as much as possible to know that if there are civilian populace within the general area, we avoid collateral damage, except it is extremely necessary. But we remain focused and very professional.”
Despite significant successes, including the neutralisation of thousands of insurgents, General Musa expressed concern over the persistent influx of new recruits into militant ranks.
“On a weekly basis, we take over thousands down but they keep coming out in numbers. Why is that so? Because we have a lot of them not doing anything and just being ready tools to be used by these criminals.”
On financial accountability, the General reassured the public that funds allocated to the military are managed with strict oversight.
“I can guarantee you that the funds being released are properly used. The CBN, ministry of finance, all the procedures they do in checkmating what we do is there. I can guarantee you that no money is wasted. Everything we buy is bought in foreign currency. Convert our budget to dollars and see how much that is.”
He further acknowledged the country’s financial challenges but affirmed that the military is committed to maximising the limited resources available.
“We know the country is going through so much, so we don’t expect to get everything, but the little that we have, we are utilizing it properly.”
Chioma Kalu
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