Banditry: Bad Roads, Tough Terrains Hamper Military Response – CDS

The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has admitted that poor road networks and rugged terrains are slowing down the military’s ability to respond swiftly to terror and bandit attacks across Nigeria.

Naija News reports that Musa made the revelation on Thursday while speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he addressed rising concerns about insecurity.

The defence chief stressed that many Nigerians often expect immediate intervention from soldiers without understanding the realities on the ground.

“A lot of people think (members of) the military are magicians; we are not, we are humans just like anybody. Most times, in these areas where attacks occur, there are either no networks or the roads are very bad.

“By the time the information reaches you, the terrorists or bandits already know, they strike quickly, and within five minutes they have disappeared because they have easier mobility to move out as fast as possible,” Musa explained.

Speaking further, Musa highlighted how improvised explosive devices (IEDs) pose additional risks for troops, particularly in the North-East.

“A distance of 10km requires someone with a hand-held scanner to walk ahead, sweeping for IEDs. If you speed up and hit one, everybody in that vehicle is dead. So you have to balance responding quickly with staying alive to do your work,” he said.

The CDS added that in several flashpoint areas, the landscape itself poses major obstacles.

“Some terrains are absolutely impassable for military vehicles, making it more difficult to reach volatile areas on time,” he said.

According to him, these challenges explain the delays that many citizens may not fully appreciate when assessing the military’s response to attacks.