Why There Are Delays In Military Response To Intelligence, Attacks –Nigerian Defence Chief

General Christopher Musa, the Nigerian Chief of Defence Staff, has explained that delays in military and security agents’ responses to intelligence can be attributed to the highly mobile nature of criminals.

He noted that many local areas lack proper network coverage, which results in delayed information.

Musa emphasised, “Some of these local areas don't have a network and even when they have information it might be a bit late because we are dealing with criminals which are highly mobile.

“One minute they are there and the next moment they move, so if there is any delay in any information…."

He made this know during his appearance on Channels Television’s 2024 Year-In-Review programme on December 31, 2024 on Tuesday night.

General Musa reaffirmed his determination to apprehend Bello Turji, a notorious terrorist and bandit leader.

Musa highlighted that the military had eliminated many of Turji’s commanders and arrested his associates who were part of the bandit’s operations in the North-West.

“The update is that since he knows we’ve been after him, he has been operating underground and we are conducting operations,” the CDS said, providing an update on Turji, who has been on the run for some time.

“What we have been doing, of recent, is that we are picking everybody close to him; all those giving him support in one way or the other, we have picked them, we have killed his commanders. It’s just a matter of time,” he added.

General Musa also shared that over 120,000 terrorists had ‘surrendered’ in the North-East. He clarified that some of these individuals had been coerced into insurgency.

"The masterminds would face the law," he said, noting that efforts are ongoing to distinguish the true leaders of the insurgency from those who were forced into violence.