Nigeria's Defence Minister, General Christopher Musa (rtd), has delivered a powerful rebuke to individuals perceived as sympathetic to terrorists and bandits, declaring that anyone who aligns with criminals shares responsibility for their actions.
A Clear Warning Against Sympathy for Criminals
Speaking during an official visit to Maiduguri on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, Minister Musa cautioned sternly against offering any form of moral, rhetorical, or material support to groups engaged in terrorism and banditry. He stated that such crimes cannot be justified under any guise of ethnic, regional, or religious affinity.
The minister's comments were widely seen as a direct response to past statements by prominent Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmed Gumi, who has previously described armed groups in forests as "our brothers" and suggested society could not function without them.
Musa drew a firm line between compassion and complicity, arguing that empathy for fellow citizens must never extend to excusing crimes that have devastated communities nationwide. He highlighted that terrorist groups have displaced thousands, destroyed livelihoods, and claimed innocent lives.
Neutrality Is Not an Option in National Security
The Defence Minister warned that terrorism thrives not only through weapons but also through public narratives that blur the line between victims and perpetrators. He asserted that those who defend or shield criminals through words or silence must accept the consequences.
"The choice is clear. Stand with the law and the nation, or be counted among those enabling criminality," Musa declared, emphasising that neutrality is not an option in matters of national security.
Army Expands Training and Welfare Infrastructure
Concurrently with this warning, the Nigerian Army announced significant steps to strengthen its capabilities. A new training depot is under construction at Amasiri Edda, spanning the Afikpo and Edda local government areas of Ebonyi State.
This project, part of a nationwide effort to expand training capacity under President Bola Tinubu's directive, was launched at a groundbreaking ceremony attended by Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru. The Governor thanked the President and the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, for approving the facility, stating it would boost youth participation from the South East and support local security.
Representing the army leadership, Major General Oluremi Fadairo said the initiative reflects a commitment to the fair distribution of military infrastructure. In a separate development in Rivers State, the army inaugurated refurbished accommodation blocks at Port Harcourt Barracks, with Major General Emmanuel Emekah stating that improved living conditions enhance troop morale and service delivery.
International Recognition and Domestic Calls for Action
On the international front, Poland has acknowledged Nigeria's pivotal role in West Africa. Polish Ambassador Michał Cygan, during a visit to Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke in Abuja, described Nigeria as a stabilising force in the region and expressed interest in deeper defence cooperation.
Domestically, the Idoma socio-cultural group, Ochetoha K'Idoma, called for decisive military action following a deadly attack on the Akpa Otobi community in Benue State that killed four people, including a serving soldier. The group warned the incident carried serious national implications.
This warning from the Defence Minister comes in the wake of reported U.S. airstrikes on suspected terrorist camps in Sokoto State around Christmas Day, 2025—actions which the Nigerian Army later confirmed were coordinated with United States Africa Command. Sheikh Gumi had previously reacted to those strikes by urging the U.S. to redirect resources from military action to education and social support for pastoral communities.
