My Men Are Tired’: Defence Minister Reveals What Nigerian Soldiers Are Going Through

Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa, has raised concerns over the prolonged deployment of military personnel across the country, revealing that many soldiers are exhausted and desperately need time to rest with their families.

Musa disclosed that some soldiers spend up to two years in a particular location before being redeployed to other parts of the country to tackle insecurity.

Speaking on the security situation, the minister said military personnel were struggling with the demands of continuous operations, with some going for extended periods without seeing their families or enjoying holidays.

“My men are tired, I can tell you for free,” Musa stated.

He explained that soldiers are frequently moved from one troubled area to another, particularly across regions facing security challenges, leaving them with limited opportunities to rest.

The Defence Minister stressed the need to strengthen the Nigeria Police Force through improved recruitment and other necessary support to enable officers to handle internal security responsibilities more effectively.

According to him, the military is working with the police to improve their capacity, with the long-term goal of reducing the involvement of soldiers in routine internal security operations.

“We feel if they get these things right, there’s no need for the military,” he said.

Musa expressed hope that a more capable police force would allow the military to gradually withdraw from internal security duties and return to the barracks, where personnel could have time to rest and recover.

He also lamented that soldiers hardly go on holidays because of the continuous demands of their assignments.

His remarks have renewed attention on the challenges facing Nigerian security personnel and the need for stronger police capacity to address insecurity across the country.

ALSO READ:Dogara Breaks Silence on Nigeria’s Insecurity, Says Crisis Predates Tinubu