General Christopher Musa explains Nigeria’s prolonged military conflict against Boko Haram due to the group’s funding sources, unconventional tactics, and modern warfare complexities..
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, January 24, General Musa addressed the challenges of eradicating the insurgent group, which has been active since 2009.
General Musa emphasized that Boko Haram’s ability to survive for 16 years raises serious questions about their funding and external support.
“For them to have survived for 16 years and are still fighting, how are they getting their funding? Who’s sustaining them?” he questioned.
He explained that insurgency differs from conventional warfare, where armies fight for territory. In contrast, Boko Haram operates with an extremist ideology, making their fighters willing to die without concern for territorial gains.
“You are fighting people who have nothing to lose. They believe they are right, and you are wrong. If he kills you, he thinks he is getting a blessing; if you kill him, he believes he’s going to heaven. That makes it very, very difficult,” he said.
The Defence Chief also highlighted how Boko Haram exploits international laws and human rights protocols by using civilians as shields, making direct military action more complicated.
“They realize that we obey international laws, but they don’t. So what do they do? They use human shields. Anytime they have anything, they go with people so that you cannot attack them,” Musa explained.
He further pointed out the difficulties security forces face, balancing the need to neutralize threats while avoiding civilian casualties.
“If you make a mistake and kill innocent people, your country comes after you. But if you don’t kill the terrorists, they continue their attacks. In both ways, you are at the receiving end,” he added.
Boko Haram’s insurgency has led to tens of thousands of deaths and displaced over 2.3 million people since 2013.
The Federal Government declared a state of emergency in 2012, extending it in 2013 to cover the entire northeastern region.
Despite military offensives, the group has continued its attacks through guerrilla tactics and alliances with international terror networks.
General Musa reassured Nigerians that the military remains committed to ending the insurgency, but acknowledged that counterinsurgency operations are complex and require sustained efforts, intelligence, and cooperation from the public.