The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has shed light on the complexities behind the prolonged fight against Boko Haram, emphasizing the challenges faced by the Nigerian military in eradicating the terrorist group that has plagued the nation for over 16 years.
Speaking during an interview on *Channels Television’s* *Politics Today* program on Friday, General Musa pointed to the group’s funding, ideological motivations, and unconventional warfare tactics as key factors sustaining the insurgency.
“This Boko Haram thing is a lot,” he stated. “For them to have survived for 16 years and are still fighting, how are they getting their funding? Who is sustaining them? They cannot just be doing it actively without external or internal support.”
Boko Haram, which began its attacks targeting soft spots, escalated its operations in 2011 to include high-profile bombings of police facilities and the United Nations office in Abuja. By 2012, a state of emergency was declared across parts of northeastern Nigeria, a measure extended in 2013 to cover the entire region. Despite these efforts, the group’s activities have led to the deaths of tens of thousands and displaced over 2.3 million people.
General Musa explained that the ideological drive of the insurgents, coupled with their use of human shields and disregard for international laws, makes the conflict particularly difficult.
“They believe they are right, and you are wrong. If they kill you, they think they are blessed. If you kill them, they think they are going to heaven. That’s a mindset of someone with absolutely nothing to lose,” Musa said.
He further noted the constraints faced by the military in adhering to international laws while the insurgents exploit such rules. “They use human shields, so you cannot attack them freely. Any mistake could lead to civilian casualties, which brings criticism on the military.”
Highlighting the shift from traditional warfare, Musa underscored the difficulty of identifying insurgents within civilian populations. “Unlike conventional wars where you know the enemy’s territory, here, they live among civilians, making it nearly impossible to differentiate.”
The Defence Chief stressed that if the conflict were conventional, the military’s current resources and armaments could end it swiftly. However, the complexities of guerrilla warfare and the need to avoid collateral damage have significantly prolonged operations.
The remarks by General Musa underscore the intricate challenges faced by the Nigerian military as it continues to combat one of the most enduring insurgencies in the region.
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