Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa rtd, has called on Nigerians to move beyond historical grievances linked to coups, the civil war and ethnic divisions, stressing that such debates no longer serve the nation’s progress in 2026. He said the continued recycling of Biafran coup narratives and ethnic blame only weakens unity and distracts from urgent security and development challenges.
Speaking in a wide ranging interview, Musa dismissed speculation around coups and political deilisation, noting that the Armed Forces remain united and committed to democracy. He revealed that a recent failed coup attempt had been foiled through intelligence coordination, adding that Nigeria has outgrown the era of military takeovers.
On the reported execution of General Uba in the North East, the Defence Minister clarified that the military has not confirmed his death. According to him, no body has been found and the officer is officially classified as missing in action. He said troops are intensifying operations in the Timbuktu Triangle while the military remains hopeful that he may still be alive.
Musa warned that terrorists and bandits will continue to seek soft targets in order to spread fear, even as pressure from security forces increases. He stressed that isolated s do not mean the war is being lost, explaining that criminal groups often strike while retreating under military pressure.
Addressing border security, the Defence Minister disclosed that Nigeria is considering fencing critical sections of its over 1,500 kilometres land borders, especially around high risk areas. He said the plan would combine physical barriers with modern surveillance technology such as drones and cameras to reduce illegal movement and strengthen national security.
Musa also reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to partnerships with countries like Turkey Israel and the United States, aimed at boosting intelligence sharing, local defence production and capacity building.
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