The Nigerian Military’s Top Official Uncovers a Hidden Reality in Banditry
Last weekend, General Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff, shared some striking revelations during a address in Abuja, capital city of Nigeria. As he received 58 rescue kidnap victims from National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, Musa shed light on a lesser-known truth – that many individuals involved in banditry were forcibly coerced into criminal activities.
The general also addressed a grave concern, accusing some individuals of actively sabotaging government efforts to combat insurgency, promising that such actions would not go unpunished. Musa expressed compassion for the victims, including children, women, and elderly individuals, stating: “As you see, they are barely surviving…Why would someone kidnap these kinds of people?’
In an effort to humanize the victims, Musa highlighted that not all bandits participated willingly in these activities, but rather, were forced into them. The CDS pledged to ensure justice for the innocent and those whose freedom has been restricted.
Musa revealed that no ransom was paid for the victims’ release and praised the military’s strategic efforts, emphasizing the importance of non-kinetic tactics. He appealed to the nation for collective support, recognizing that a joint effort is crucial to combating insecurity.
Laka, the National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Center, shared that investigations indicated the captors as armed bandits led by the notorious Janbros, forcing the victims to trek hundreds of kilometers through the dense forest of Birnin Gwari. As a result, six initially hospitalized victims have since recovered and been reunited with others, awaiting transfer back to their families.
The Kaduna State Governor’s Chief of Staff, Sani Limankila, called for collaboration between citizens and security forces to eradicate kidnapping and banditry. The rescued victims, consisting of 35 males and 23 females, were originally taken from their homes and farmlands in the villages of Gayam, Sabon Layi, and Kwaga, Dan Musa Local Government Area of Katsina State. On November 14, troops from the 1 Division of the Nigerian Army successfully rescued the 58 individuals.
