Defence Minister Christopher Musa Denies Nigeria Recruits Underage Soldiers

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Key Takeaways

Defence Minister Christopher Musa (rtd) has denied allegations that the Nigerian military recruits underage soldiers.
Musa said the allegation about underage individuals concerned terrorist groups rather than the Nigerian military.
President Bola Tinubu has reportedly directed security agencies to rescue kidnapped and abducted people across the country.
Musa announced plans for the commissioning of about 10 aircraft and helicopters to strengthen aerial security surveillance.
The minister said salary increases enjoyed by military personnel would soon be extended to police officers, other paramilitary personnel and pensioners.

Christopher Musa Rejects Underage Soldier Recruitment Allegations

Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa (rtd), has rejected allegations that the country’s military is recruiting underage soldiers to fight terrorists and tackle insecurity.

Musa made the statement while addressing journalists after a National Security Council meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the State House in Abuja on Thursday.

He maintained that the Nigerian military operates professionally and does not recruit underage individuals for its operations. According to him, reports about the use of underage individuals concerned terrorist groups rather than the armed forces.

“We are all professionals. We are fully committed,” the minister said, insisting that no underage person was being recruited by the military.

Musa added that the security forces could not control the activities of terrorist groups but needed to ensure that such groups did not continue operating freely.

His comments were a response to allegations surrounding the recruitment and use of underage individuals in Nigeria’s security conflict. The supplied report, however, does not include independent evidence establishing the full circumstances behind the allegation.

Tinubu Directs Security Agencies to Rescue Kidnapped Victims

Beyond addressing the recruitment controversy, Musa said President Tinubu had instructed security agencies to intensify efforts to locate and rescue people abducted in different parts of Nigeria.

According to the minister, the President expects the security forces to pursue those responsible for kidnappings and prevent armed groups from maintaining camps across the country.

“The directive from the president is: all of us must go all out to fish out and rescue all those that have been abducted, kidnapped wherever they are,” Musa said.

He also assured Nigerians that the security agencies were committed to carrying out the directive and working together to address the country’s security challenges.

The statement outlines the government’s stated security priorities, although the supplied report does not provide details of specific rescue operations, the number of victims recovered or a timeline for achieving the directive.

Nigeria Plans to Commission About 10 Aircraft and Helicopters

Musa also disclosed that President Tinubu would soon commission a new batch of aircraft and helicopters intended to strengthen Nigeria’s aerial security surveillance.

The minister put the number of aircraft and helicopters at approximately 10 but did not identify their models or provide a specific commissioning date in the supplied report.

He said the planned commissioning demonstrated the administration’s stated commitment to security despite the country’s economic challenges.

“I want to assure you, very soon Mr. President is coming to commission a set of new aircraft and helicopters that have been bought. I think about 10 of them,” Musa said.

The announcement signals a planned addition to the equipment available to the security forces. However, the report does not specify how the aircraft will be distributed, when they will become operational or which security agencies will use them.

Police, Paramilitary Personnel and Pensioners May Benefit From Salary Increases

The Defence Minister further indicated that the salary increase recently enjoyed by members of the armed forces would soon be extended to police officers, other paramilitary personnel and pensioners.

Musa said the President wanted the benefits to reach other groups and that no one should be left behind.

“The recent increment of salaries for members of the armed forces. I’m sure very soon the police and all others are being addressed, including those of the pensioners,” he stated.

His remarks suggest that discussions or further action concerning the other groups are expected. However, the supplied report does not specify the proposed salary amounts, implementation dates or whether formal approval has been completed for each category.

The minister’s statement should therefore be understood as an indication of the administration’s stated intention, rather than confirmation that all affected workers and pensioners have already received increases.

Musa Calls for Public Cooperation on Security

Musa concluded by urging Nigerians to cooperate with security agencies and report suspected wrongdoing, including misconduct by security personnel.

He stressed that maintaining security was not solely the responsibility of the armed forces or other uniformed services.

“Security is everybody’s responsibility. It’s not only for members of security forces,” he said.

The minister encouraged members of the public to report incidents they believe require official attention and said action would be taken when security personnel were found to be acting improperly.

His appeal places public cooperation alongside the government’s stated plans for rescue operations and additional security equipment.

What Happens Next?

The key developments to watch are the promised commissioning of the aircraft and helicopters, the implementation of the President’s rescue directive, and any formal announcements concerning salary increases for police officers, paramilitary personnel and pensioners.

Further clarification or independently verifiable evidence concerning the underage recruitment allegation would also help establish the circumstances surrounding the controversy.

For now, Musa’s remarks represent the Defence Ministry’s position on the allegation and the government’s stated priorities for addressing insecurity.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Did Christopher Musa deny that Nigeria recruits underage soldiers?

Yes. The Defence Minister denied the allegation, maintaining that the Nigerian military does not recruit underage individuals for its operations.

2. What did Musa say about terrorist groups and underage individuals?

He said the allegation concerned terrorist groups using underage individuals rather than the Nigerian military. This remains the minister’s account as presented in the supplied report.

3. What security directive did President Tinubu reportedly give?

Musa said the President directed security agencies to locate and rescue kidnapped and abducted people and ensure that terrorist and bandit camps did not continue operating across Nigeria.

4. How many aircraft and helicopters did Musa say would be commissioned?

He referred to approximately 10 aircraft and helicopters but did not provide their models or a specific commissioning date in the supplied report.

5. Will police officers and pensioners receive salary increases?

Musa said the salary increase enjoyed by armed forces personnel would soon be extended to police officers, other paramilitary personnel and pensioners. The supplied report does not confirm when the changes will take effect or the amounts involved.

6. What did the Defence Minister ask Nigerians to do?

He urged Nigerians to cooperate with security agencies and report suspected wrongdoing, including misconduct by security personnel.

Conclusion

Christopher Musa has rejected allegations that Nigeria’s military recruits underage soldiers while outlining the government’s stated plans to strengthen security operations, commission additional aircraft and extend salary increases to other security personnel and pensioners.

The next important developments will be the implementation of the announced measures and any further evidence or clarification concerning the recruitment allegation. Until then, the minister’s statements should be reported as the official position presented in the supplied account.

**What do you think should be the priority in addressing Nigeria’s security challenges: improved equipment, stronger rescue operations or greater public cooperation? Share your views in the comments.

TAGS: Defence Minister Christopher Musa