By Isiaka Mustapha, CEO/Editor-in-Chief, People’s Security Monitor

In a country long battered by insurgency, banditry, and broken trust in its armed forces, the man now leading Nigeria’s military doesn’t raise his voice or his profile. He’s not flashy. He’s not performative. But over the past two years, General Christopher Gwabin Musa has emerged as a quiet force. He’s measured in words; decisive in action.

Since taking over as Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff on June 23, 2023, General Christopher Gwabin Musa has ushered in a new era of military leadership, one defined by quiet discipline, strategic intent, and a deepening bond between the armed forces and the civilians they serve. His leadership has driven measurable gains: insurgent strongholds weakened, regional alliances strengthened, military reforms accelerated, and troop morale visibly restored.

That same operational clarity followed General Musa into his current role. Just months after taking office, he initiated a nationwide overhaul of military deployment strategies, fusing traditional force with intelligence-driven precision.

“We must be proactive, not reactive,” he told Defence correspondents during his first major briefing. “Security today isn’t just about guns; it’s about technology, collaboration, and the people.”

Under his command, Nigeria’s military has recorded tangible results. From the dense forests of Zamfara to the rugged hills of Borno and the farmlands of Benue, coordinated air and ground offensives have dismantled terror enclaves, destroyed arms caches, and rescued hostages. In the first half of 2024 alone, over 4,700 terrorists and bandits were neutralised, and nearly 3,511 abductees were freed.

Perhaps more telling is the scale of surrender. More than 116,000 insurgents and their families laid down their arms under Musa’s de-radicalization programme, a strategy that blends military pressure with amnesty, rehabilitation, and reintegration into society.

“We don’t just fight the enemy,” General Musa said at a recent
national security summit. “We also strive to understand why people
take up arms in the first place and what it takes to break that
cycle.’’

‘’Perhaps one of his most overlooked achievements is his focus on troop
morale. No Chief of Defence Staff before him has placed such emphasis
on the welfare of soldiers. Musa has championed housing initiatives
for the families of fallen heroes, launched trauma counseling
programme for frontline troops, and pushed for improved medical
coverage and continuous training.

In late 2024, more than 85 Nigerian officers were sent for advanced
military training in Turkey, the United States of America and Pakistan
as part of his broader vision to make the Nigerian Armed Forces
globally competitive yet deeply rooted in local realities.

At home, he spearheaded the establishment of new war colleges and regional
training centres to build long-term capacity within the force.

But General Musa is not only a soldier; he is also a seasoned
diplomat. As Chairman of the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence
Staff, he has been instrumental in crafting coordinated responses to a
wave of military coups across West Africa, particularly in Mali,
Burkina Faso and Niger. He has consistently advocated for the
protection of democratic institutions, while maintaining critical
lines of military cooperation across national borders.

His message is grounded in realism. “The security of one country in
West Africa affects all of us,” he said at an ECOWAS summit in Accra.
“If we don’t act together, we fall apart separately.”

General Christopher Gwabin Musa understands that in modern warfare,
public perception is half the battle. Under his leadership, the
Nigerian military has embraced transparency like never before, opening
lines of communication, strengthening civil–military relations, and
collaborating with humanitarian agencies to deliver aid in
conflict-affected areas.

He has taken the uniform beyond the battlefield by hosting town halls,
youth forums, and even organising a football tournament titled “Peace
and Unity” in volatile communities. Through sport and dialogue, he is
rebuilding trust among citizens long alienated by checkpoints and
combat fatigues.’’

Yet, despite these strides, challenges persist. Armed groups continue
to exploit Nigeria’s porous borders. Banditry, though diminished,
still erupts in pockets. And the defence sector faces persistent
issues of logistical shortfalls, bureaucratic inertia, and corruption.

Still, Musa offers something the military has often lacked: vision without chaos. As Nigeria marks two years under his stewardship as
Chief of Defence Staff, what truly stands out isn’t just the number of
terrorists neutralised or weapons recovered, it’s the quiet,
methodical transformation of a military once viewed with immense suspicion
into a force increasingly defined by discipline, service, and
humanity.

In a country weary of conflict and skeptical of grand promises,
General Musa delivers something rare: calm, competent leadership. He
doesn’t chase headlines. He shows no interest in political theatrics.
His mission is singular; to secure the nation, and bring every soldier
home alive.