Former Chief of Army Staff, Retired General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, has called on the military leadership, headed by Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) General Christopher Musa, to bring an end to the ongoing banditry and killings plaguing the nation “as soon as possible.”
The 85-year-old made this demand on Tuesday in Abuja during the launch of a book titled Big Boots: Lessons From My Military Service, authored by retired Major General Solomon Udounwa.
Speaking directly to both serving and retired military officials present, including General Musa, Danjuma emphasized that the responsibility to halt the violent activities of bandits and marauders rests squarely on the shoulders of the current officers.
The former COAS said, “We must end the banditry and the killings that are going on in our country as soon as possible.
“The responsibilities are on your shoulders; those of you who are still servicing. No excuses, absolutely no excuses. God bless you. God bless our country.”
In response, CDS General Musa reassured Danjuma and those in attendance that the Nigerian Armed Forces remain fully committed to confronting the challenges of banditry and terrorism.
He vowed that the military would not be discouraged or defeated in their mission to restore peace and security.
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria is willing, dedicated and committed to ensuring that we restore peace and security in our own dear country.
“We shall not be deterred. I want to assure you that we have learnt so much from your records. We cannot afford to fail and we will not fail,” Gen Musa told TY Danjuma.
Nigeria’s North-West and North-Central regions have become notorious for violent groups known as bandits, who engage in widespread kidnappings, killings, and other acts of terror.
According to a report by SBM Intelligence, a security research firm, Nigerians paid approximately ₦1.04 billion in ransom to kidnappers over the past year.
The report further revealed that at least 7,568 individuals were abducted in 1,130 incidents nationwide during that period.