Nigeria Must Stand on “Two Legs” to Defeat Terrorism — Defence Minister Musa
Nigeria’s Defence Minister Christopher Musa has called for a fundamental shift in the country’s approach to national security, urging Nigerians to actively participate in the fight against terrorism rather than leaving the responsibility solely to the military.
In a detailed policy reflection on the evolving security strategy of the federal government, Musa argued that defeating insurgency and violent extremism requires a combined military and civilian approach, which he describes as “standing on two legs.”
According to the minister, relying solely on armed force is insufficient to end terrorism. Instead, a coordinated effort between the military, government institutions, local communities, and civil society must become the foundation of Nigeria’s national security strategy.
The minister said the philosophy aligns with the broader mandate provided by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who serves as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
A Commitment to Strengthening Nigeria’s Security Architecture
Since assuming office as Nigeria’s defence minister, Musa says he has focused on strengthening the country’s security architecture and redefining how the government addresses internal threats.
He stressed that the first step in solving Nigeria’s security problems is for citizens to take ownership of the country’s challenges.
According to him, national security cannot be achieved through government action alone.
Instead, it requires unity of purpose across all sectors of society.
Musa explained that his approach is rooted in the belief that security must be treated as a collective responsibility shared by the military and civilians alike.
This philosophy, he said, has shaped his career within the Nigerian Armed Forces, where he previously served in multiple command and strategic leadership roles before transitioning into his current civilian position.
He added that throughout his years in uniform he consistently encouraged younger officers and subordinates to adopt the same mindset.
Military Leadership and Strategic Experience
Before his appointment as defence minister, Musa held several important positions within Nigeria’s military command structure, including serving as Chief of Defence Staff.
In those roles, he said he gained critical insight into the complexity of modern security threats, particularly the insurgency that has plagued parts of the country for more than a decade.
Groups such as Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province have carried out thousands of attacks across northeastern Nigeria and neighbouring countries.
These extremist groups have targeted civilians, security forces, schools, and infrastructure in their campaign to destabilise the region.
Musa noted that his operational experiences convinced him that traditional military tactics alone cannot eliminate insurgent movements.
Instead, the conflict must be approached from a broader perspective that addresses the political, economic, and social conditions that allow extremist groups to thrive.
Balancing Military and Civilian Perspectives
One of the challenges Musa says he faced during his military career was navigating the intersection between military decision-making and civilian governance.
He explained that there were moments during his command where he chose to adopt civilian perspectives when addressing certain security issues.
Although those decisions sometimes generated disagreement among soldiers under his command, he said the outcomes ultimately validated the approach.
The defence minister emphasised that military leaders must occasionally step outside strictly military thinking in order to achieve sustainable solutions.
He believes such flexibility can produce better long-term results than relying exclusively on force.
In many cases, he said, cooperation with civilian authorities helped improve security outcomes in affected communities.
From “War of Attrition” to “War of Legitimacy”
A central theme of Musa’s strategy is shifting Nigeria’s counter-terrorism approach away from what he describes as a “war of attrition.”
Traditional military campaigns often measure success based on the number of militants killed or captured.
However, Musa argues that this approach only addresses the surface level of the problem.
Instead, he advocates for what he calls a “war of legitimacy.”
In this framework, success is measured not only by battlefield victories but by the number of civilians who are convinced to reject extremist ideology and support the government.
According to Musa, the ultimate goal should be winning the trust and cooperation of local communities.
This involves addressing grievances, improving governance, and building stronger relationships between civilians and security forces.
By doing so, insurgent groups lose the local support networks that allow them to operate.
The “Borno Model” and Counter-Insurgency Lessons
Musa said some of the ideas shaping Nigeria’s current security policy emerged from experiences in Borno State, the epicentre of the Boko Haram insurgency.
During his time in command roles, the military developed strategies that emphasised close cooperation with local governments and community leaders.
This collaboration helped improve intelligence gathering and allowed the military to better understand the needs of affected communities.
The approach, sometimes referred to as the “Borno model,” demonstrated how civilian involvement could enhance counter-insurgency operations.
Musa believes the lessons learned in Borno can be applied across other regions facing security challenges.
Strengthening Joint Military Operations
As Chief of Defence Staff, Musa also focused on improving coordination among the different branches of Nigeria’s armed forces.
He highlighted the importance of “jointness” — a military concept referring to cooperation between the army, navy, air force, and other security agencies.
At a joint task force commanders conference, he stressed the need for greater unity of effort across all operational theatres.
The meeting focused on improving collaboration among commanders deployed in different parts of the country.
Musa argued that fragmented operations can weaken the overall effectiveness of military campaigns.
By working together more closely, the armed forces can maximise their resources and respond more effectively to threats.
Changing Perceptions Through Military Rebranding
The defence minister also spoke about the symbolic importance of rebranding military operations.
For example, in Plateau State, a long-running military operation previously known as Operation Safe Haven was renamed Operation Enduring Peace.
According to Musa, the name change was intended to send a message to both soldiers and civilians that the goal of military operations is not only security but also long-term peace and stability.
The initiative aimed to encourage stronger cooperation between security forces and local communities.
Musa said similar strategies are now being implemented across other operational theatres.
The “Whole-of-Society” Security Strategy
The defence ministry is currently promoting what Musa calls a “whole-of-society” approach to national security.
This strategy involves engaging a wide range of stakeholders beyond the military.
Participants include:
Community leaders
Religious institutions
Traditional rulers
Civil society organisations
Media organisations
Private sector groups
The goal is to build a nationwide coalition against terrorism and violent extremism.
Musa believes that if insurgent groups can collaborate among themselves, ordinary citizens should be able to collaborate with security forces to defeat them.
Terrorist Groups Increasing Cooperation
One reason the government is emphasising collaboration is the growing cooperation between extremist organisations.
Musa noted that groups such as Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province, and other armed factions have increasingly worked together.
Despite ideological differences and past rivalries, these groups have occasionally shared intelligence and coordinated attacks.
This evolving threat environment makes it more important for the government and citizens to unite.
Beyond Guns and Bullets
The defence minister emphasised that terrorism cannot be defeated through military firepower alone.
While “kinetic operations” — military actions involving direct combat — remain necessary, they must be complemented by “non-kinetic” strategies.
These include:
Community engagement
Counter-radicalisation programmes
Economic development initiatives
Education and awareness campaigns
According to Musa, combining these strategies creates a balanced approach capable of addressing both the symptoms and root causes of insecurity.
Engaging Communities Across Nigeria
To implement the whole-of-society strategy, the Ministry of Defence has begun working with stakeholders across the country.
These efforts include outreach programmes aimed at educating communities about their role in national security.
Messaging campaigns are being designed to reach both urban and rural populations.
Musa said the goal is to ensure that even citizens in remote areas understand how they can contribute to preventing terrorism.
The ministry is also developing communication strategies tailored to different social groups to ensure the message resonates across the country.
Citizens as the First Line of Defence
During a recent speech to alumni members of Federal Government College Kaduna Old Students Association, Musa emphasised that citizens themselves form the first line of defence.
He used examples to illustrate the point:
A farmer in Sokoto
A trader in Lagos
A teacher in Enugu
Each of these individuals, he said, plays a role in maintaining national security.
By reporting suspicious activity, supporting local security initiatives, and promoting unity within their communities, ordinary Nigerians can help prevent extremist groups from gaining a foothold.
Ending the Culture of Passive Observation
Musa warned that a nation cannot remain secure if its citizens adopt a passive attitude toward security threats.
He argued that people must move from being mere observers to becoming active participants in the security process.
This shift requires a cultural change in how Nigerians think about national defence.
The military, he said, cannot be everywhere at once.
For that reason, cooperation between civilians and security forces is essential.
The Symbolism of “Standing on Two Legs”
The defence minister chose the phrase “standing on two legs is better than standing on one leg” as a simple metaphor for Nigeria’s security strategy.
The two “legs” represent:
Kinetic operations carried out by the military
Non-kinetic efforts involving civilians and institutions
According to Musa, relying on only one of these approaches will not succeed.
But when both are used together, the country can build a stronger and more resilient defence system.
A Personal Commitment to National Service
Musa also reflected on his personal journey in the Nigerian military.
He recalled receiving his presidential commission as an infantry officer on September 21, 1991.
Since that moment, he said, he has dedicated his life to protecting Nigeria’s sovereignty and stability.
Now serving as defence minister, he says his mission remains the same: ensuring that the hopes and aspirations of Nigerians are translated into lasting security.
Looking Ahead
The minister said his reflections on security strategy represent the first in a series of public engagements aimed at keeping Nigerians informed about the government’s efforts.
He believes that maintaining open communication with the public will help strengthen trust between citizens and security institutions.
Ultimately, Musa said the fight against terrorism will only succeed if Nigerians unite behind a common purpose.
By “standing on two legs,” he argues, the nation can create the balance necessary to defeat violent extremism and build lasting peace.