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ABUJA — WhichWayNigeria, a socio-political awareness association, has urged the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd.), to clarify the Federal Government’s counter-terrorism policy, warning that inconsistent public statements on the nation’s security strategy could create uncertainty within the Armed Forces and diminish public confidence.
The call was made in a press statement signed by the organisation’s Secretary General, Adamu Amos, who said two recent remarks credited to the Defence Minister appeared contradictory and risked sending mixed signals at a critical period in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism and banditry.
According to the group, the Minister was recently reported to have directed troops to confront terrorists and bandits decisively “without waiting for approval.” In another engagement, however, he was quoted as saying that “no country can shoot itself to peace,” while advocating a “whole-of-society approach” to addressing the country’s security challenges.
WhichWayNigeria said the contrasting messages have generated confusion among Nigerians and stakeholders in the security sector.
“We, WhichWayNigeria, a socio-political awareness association, are concerned by two recent public positions attributed to the Honourable Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd.), which appear to contradict each other and have created confusion among citizens and within the security sector,” the statement said.
The organisation argued that the office of the Defence Minister demands consistency, strategic communication and policy clarity, particularly on matters relating to national security.
“As a retired General now serving in a civilian political office, the Honourable Minister is expected to provide clarity, consistency, and strategic direction. The Armed Forces and Nigerians deserve clear rules of engagement, backed by policy and law,” Amos stated.
The group maintained that unclear messaging could have serious implications for military operations by creating uncertainty for personnel in the field while sending the wrong signals to criminal groups.
“Mixed messaging at this level risks creating uncertainty for troops in the field, emboldens adversaries, and erodes public trust in the Ministry’s leadership,” the statement added.
Emphasising the importance of professionalism in security management, WhichWayNigeria said operational directives should always be aligned with clearly defined national security policies.
“National security is too important to be subjected to ad-hoc commentary. A professional approach requires that operational directives align with broader strategic policy, and that both are communicated in a coherent manner,” the organisation said.
The association therefore called on the Defence Minister to publicly explain the Ministry’s official rules of engagement and provide greater clarity on the government’s overall counter-terrorism strategy.
It urged the Minister to ensure that future public statements consistently reflect official policy and reinforce confidence in the country’s security leadership.
“We therefore call on the Honourable Minister of Defence to clarify the official position of the Ministry on rules of engagement and the overall counter-terrorism strategy to avoid ambiguity, speak with one voice that reflects both the constitutional responsibility to protect Nigerians and the need for coordinated, intelligence-led, and community-based solutions.”
The group also challenged the Ministry to demonstrate the competence and stability expected of its leadership by ensuring that official pronouncements translate into clear policy rather than conflicting public narratives.
“The Ministry should demonstrate the competence and steadiness expected of the office by ensuring that public statements translate into clear policy, rather than contradictory headlines,” Amos said.
Reiterating its appeal, WhichWayNigeria said Nigerians expect leadership that inspires confidence and provides strategic direction in the country’s ongoing battle against terrorism, banditry and other violent crimes.
“Nigerians are looking for leadership that inspires confidence, not confusion. At this critical time, the Ministry of Defence must project certainty, competence, and a unified command. Anything less falls short of the expectations of the office and of the citizens it is meant to serve,” the statement concluded.
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