Informants Within Communities Betray the Army: Nigeria’s Top General
By Steven Kefas and Segun Onibiyo
(Kaduna), In a startling revelation that sent shockwaves through the Nigerian audiences, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, exposed a critical weakness in the nation’s fight against terrorism. During a viral ‘One-On-One’ interview on TVC News, General Musa declared, “Informants within communities make it difficult to track terrorists.”
This frank disclosure shed light on a complex web of betrayal that for years has handicapped Nigeria’s war against Boko Haram insurgents, the Islamic State of West Africa and today swarms of organized criminals. The general’s words painted a grim picture of rural communities infiltrated by terrorists who ingratiate themselves to their hosts with bribes.
The Blood Money Trail
General Musa didn’t mince words when describing the motivations of these informants. “The truth about it is that they think they are making money. But that money is blood money,” said the general, who was born and raised in a Christian family in southern Kaduna.
His voice carried a mix of frustration and determination as he added, “It has happened over and over again. What they forget is that if they don’t account for it here, they are accountable to God.”
The general warned of a darker fate awaiting those who align themselves with terrorists. “What people forget about terrorists is that you will think you are with them. When they are done with those they attack, they will come for you,” he cautioned.
Forests of Deception
The challenges faced by Nigeria’s military are compounded by the vast Savannah forests cascading down hillsides from Katsina State to the rolling Savanna of the Lake Chad region. “You should understand that these areas where they operate are forested and very large,” General Musa explained. This geographic reality makes it easier for terrorists to evade capture, especially with the aid of local informants.
In a twist that borders on the surreal, the General described scenarios where community members actively obstruct justice. The bandit-terrorists dress much like the civilians they live with, using their neighbors as a human shield. “We have seen situations where we attack them, they are with arms, but before we get down to them, the civilians from that area will take the weapons and hide them and tell you that [the terrorists] are civilians. It has happened on several occasions.”
The General’s comments are coming days after citizens in Jika da Kolo, Yadin Kidandan community in Kaduna State, accused the military of killing 23 civilians following an air raid against terrorists’ logistics facility in the area, a claim the Nigerian military vehemently denied.
Dr. Walid Abdullahi, a security expert based in Birnin-Kebbi, emphasized the importance of General Musa’s revelations. “The revelation is timely and apt,” he stated. “We have seen it happen over and over again where the military will bomb known terrorists’ locations only for some residents to come and allege that civilians were killed.” Abdullahis told Truth Nigeria.
A History of Allegations
The general’s revelations are not without precedent. In 2018, former Chief of Army Staff, General TY Danjuma, made similar allegations said “The armed forces are not neutral; they collude with the armed bandits that kill people, kill Nigerians,” Danjuma had claimed. “They facilitate their movement. They cover them.”
These accusations gain further credibility from incidents such as the 2020 discovery of a mobile phone at a terrorist attack scene in Southern Kaduna. The phone, recovered by vigilantes and made available to an American news agency, contained contact information for police and military personnel ( The discovery reported by members of TruthNigeria team who worked at that time for Zenger News).
The Right to Self-Defense
Amidst these challenges, General Musa emphasized the importance of self-reliance. “Self-defense is a human right,” he declared. “Every Nigerian should be able to defend himself wherever he is, especially in terrorist-infested communities.” This call to action underscores the severity of the situation and the need for a united front against terrorism.
The Insider’s Perspective
A serving military officer, speaking on condition of anonymity with TruthNigeria, confirmed the existence of military personnel working with terrorists. In addition, bandit terrorists easily compromise cash-strapped farming people with bribes of food or cash. “It is true,” the officer revealed. “From intelligence gathered, the military understands that some villagers where terrorists operate give movement intel to the terrorists for food, protection, and money.”
“There is also the challenge of these informants getting troop movements from some military personal.
“You saw in a viral video on social media, some officers in the front line arrested for robbing their colleagues of weapons and ammunition. They in turn sell these weapons and ammunition to terrorists, through proxies in terrorist control areas like in Zamfara, Maiduguri, Yobe and Niger states.
“Many of these people make it difficult to successfully carry out planned operations in those terrorists areas.
“Some of these informants are also sponsored by powerful politicians and military officers with an interest in the war against terrorism,” he said.
The officer also highlighted a disturbing trend of weapons and ammunition being sold to terrorists through proxies in terrorist-controlled areas.
A Call to Vigilance
As Nigeria continues its fight against terrorism, the words of General Musa serve as both a warning and a rallying cry. The battle is not just against external threats, but also against the invisible enemy within. It’s a stark reminder that in the face of such complex challenges, unity and vigilance are more crucial than ever.
Segun Onibiyo and Steven Kefas are conflict reporters for TruthNigeria.
