Defence Minister Orders "Shoot on Sight"

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Insecurity: "Shoot on Sight, Don’t Wait for Orders" – Defence Minister Orders Soldiers

In a major shift in Nigeria's counter-terrorism strategy, the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (Rtd), has issued a definitive directive to frontline security personnel: neutralize bandits and terrorists immediately upon contact. He explicitly warned that any operative who hesitates or waits for bureaucratic approval before opening fire will be treated as an accomplice to the criminals.

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The Minister handed down this hardline order in Sokoto State during the official commissioning of 62 operational vehicles and state-of-the-art security equipment. The fleet, valued at N27.1 billion, was procured by the Sokoto State Government to decisively crush the wave of insecurity gripping the region.

"We Will Treat You Like a Bandit"

Addressing the troops directly during the deployment ceremony, General Musa made it clear that the era of waiting for radio clearance in the heat of battle is over.

"Once you are deployed, do not wait for any order from anybody to shoot any bandit or any terrorist. I want to make that very loud and clear—anybody who refuses to shoot or kill any bandit or terrorist in the name of waiting for an order, we will treat you like a bandit."

The directive aims to eliminate operational delays that have previously allowed criminal networks to exploit gaps in military engagement rules.

A Call for Accountability and Maintenance

With billions of Naira poured into local security infrastructure, General Musa also emphasized strict accountability regarding the upkeep of the new hardware. Pointing out that the funds could have been directed toward other socio-economic needs, he charged the handlers to protect the investment.

"It is important for those that will handle this equipment... these equipment cost billions of naira that could have been used for other aspects but have been dedicated to this. So I want to charge you that you must maintain this equipment very well. We will come after a year to see how these equipment are doing."

What This Means for the Security Landscape

This "shoot-on-sight" stance highlights the federal government's increasing impatience with lingering insurgencies. By empowering troops to make split-second, lethal decisions in the field, the Ministry of Defence expects a aggressive surge in successful neutralizations across North-West flashpoints. However, the mandate puts immense pressure on frontline commanders to accurately identify targets in complex, asymmetric environments.

Stay tuned to Gossiphome TV for more updates on this developing story.