Nigeria’s minister-designate for Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd.), has revealed why the Southwest region continues to enjoy relative peace compared to other parts of the country. He attributed the zone’s stability to strong regional cooperation among governors and a unified approach to security management.
Musa made the remarks on Wednesday during his ministerial screening at the Senate Chamber in Abuja, warning that cross-border incursions by armed groups into parts of the North-Central and Southwest will continue unless states form stronger alliances.
Southwest Security Success: A Product of Regional Unity
General Musa praised the Southwest, stating that the zone’s safety is not by chance but by deliberate coordination among its governors.
“The Southwest is doing well because all the governors agreed together,” he said. “Regionally, governors must come together. Two or three are better than one.”
He urged other geopolitical zones to adopt the same collaborative strategy if they hope to tackle insecurity effectively.
Porous Borders Fuel Bandit Movements in the North
The former Chief of Defence Staff highlighted that many armed groups operating in the North gain strength from Nigeria’s porous borders and the lack of synchronized security structures with neighbouring countries.
According to him, bandits around the Sokoto–Niger Republic corridor exploit international boundary lines to escape military pressure.
“Bandits don’t respect borders,” Musa warned. “Their strength is the ability to run when you attack them. Once they cross into Niger, you can’t touch them until they come back.”
He stressed that without deeper cross-border cooperation, northern states will continue to face persistent attacks.
Call for Stronger Multinational Joint Task Force Support
Musa emphasized the need to reinforce the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) headquartered in N’Djamena. He said expanding its capacity is essential to secure border regions stretching toward Mali and Burkina Faso, where emerging threats are developing.
He also linked recent incursions into Kwara State and attempts to push into the Southwest to these same cross-border escape routes.
“We’re beginning to have incursions into Kwara, coming down southwest. We must stop them from getting further than that,” he cautioned.
Need for Better Coordination Among Security Agencies
Musa explained that ongoing security operations are being reorganized to create a more unified, efficient system. He said every relevant government agency must fully understand its role and work in harmony.
“Action has already been taken. What remains is harmonizing everything and ensuring all MDAs know their responsibilities,” he noted.
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