In a nation long besieged by insurgency, terrorism and banditry, a top military leader is calling for a revolutionary shift in Nigeria’s approach to national security—one that goes far beyond the barrel of a gun.
General Christopher Gwabin Musa, Chief of Defence Staff of Nigeria, is widely known for his military leadership, having commanded the high-stakes Operation HADIN KAI in the volatile Northeast.
But in his new book, Taking a Stand Against Insurgency, Terrorism and Banditry: Admonition to Nigerian Youths, General Musa offers a compelling and unconventional message: lasting peace in Nigeria cannot be won through military power alone.
Instead, he proposes a fundamental transformation grounded in youth empowerment, institutional reform and peacebuilding through what he identifies as the Eight Pillars of Positive Peace.
His 17-chapter book is both a reflection on decades of military service and a visionary call to the country’s younger generation to rise as architects of a new Nigeria.
Reframing the War: From Battlefield to Mindset
At the heart of the book lies a bold thesis: defeating insurgency requires more than eliminating militants. It requires eliminating the conditions that allow extremist ideologies to take root.
“Insurgents thrive on discontent,” writes General Musa. “They feed on alienation, poverty, and mistrust of institutions. To defeat them, we must not only confront them, but remove the soil in which they grow.”
In his assessment, Nigerian youth—often portrayed as victims of insecurity or, worse, as recruits—are in fact the country’s most potent resource for building peace. Musa positions them not as passive recipients of protection but as active participants in shaping a resilient and just society.
A Strategic Core: The Eight Pillars of Positive Peace
The intellectual cornerstone of the book is Chapter Five, titled Building a Culture of Peace, which introduces the Institute for Economics and Peace’s Positive Peace Framework as a national strategy.
The Eight Pillars, General Musa argues, form the backbone of any enduring peace effort. These include:
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Well-Functioning Government: Transparency, accountability, and public services that work for citizens rather than against them.
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Sound Business Environment: Providing economic alternatives to criminal or extremist activities through legitimate job creation.
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Equitable Distribution of Resources: Ensuring access to education, healthcare, and opportunity, particularly in marginalised regions.
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Acceptance of the Rights of Others: Cultivating tolerance across ethnic and religious lines to counter identity-based violence.
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Good Relations with Neighbours: Promoting dialogue both within and across borders to reduce tensions.
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Free Flow of Information: Empowering citizens with accurate information and countering extremist propaganda.
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High Levels of Human Capital: Investing in education and health to enable civic participation and economic productivity.
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Low Levels of Corruption: Rebuilding public trust in government by addressing systemic abuse and mismanagement.
Musa’s call is not merely theoretical. He maps each pillar to actionable strategies youth can take, from holding local leaders accountable to rejecting corruption in everyday life. In doing so, he reframes Nigeria’s 70 million-strong youth population as peacebuilders-in-waiting.
The Youth Factor: From Target to Vanguard
General Musa’s decision to address his book directly to Nigerian youth is deliberate and symbolic. He views them as the pivot upon which the country’s future stability rests.
“Instead of being manipulated by extremist groups,” he writes, “our youth can be trained, empowered and inspired to lead a new wave of nation-building.”
He outlines how youth can become change agents in each of the Eight Pillars—pushing for fair governance, embracing diversity, building ethical businesses and championing transparency. The message is clear: the battle for Nigeria’s peace will not be won solely by armed forces, but by a generation willing to take ownership of their country’s destiny.
Resilience: The Silent Weapon Against Terror
Perhaps the most poignant insight in Taking a Stand is Musa’s emphasis on resilience as a core national defence strategy. In contrast to the highly visible tactics of military raids or airstrikes, he focuses on the psychological and communal strength of ordinary people.
“A population that possesses the ability to remain resilient in the face of terrorism… is one of the most overlooked yet potentially effective tools in the fight against terrorism,” he argues.
This type of societal resilience—rooted in unity, shared values, and collective resistance to fear—undermines the goals of extremist groups more effectively than bullets ever could. It transforms civilians from soft targets into bulwarks of peace.
A Blueprint for National Unity
While the Nigerian state continues to invest heavily in military operations against Boko Haram, ISWAP, and other violent groups, General Musa’s work suggests that a purely kinetic approach is insufficient.
His book arrives at a time when security experts and civil society leaders are increasingly calling for more holistic strategies.
Civil society organisations, educators, and even some political leaders have welcomed the book as a refreshing counter-narrative to the militarised discourse that often dominates security conversations in Nigeria.
“General Musa’s book is a much-needed intervention,” says Nkem Okoro, a peacebuilding expert with the Centre for Democratic Development. “It bridges the gap between security and development, and it gives the youth a place in the national conversation on peace.”
Towards a Future Beyond Fear
More than a policy document or military memoir, Taking a Stand Against Insurgency, Terrorism and Banditry is a national manifesto for a different kind of future—one built not on fear and retribution, but on inclusion, justice and dignity.
General Musa does not downplay the role of the military. He recognises the essential function of armed forces in providing immediate security. But he is equally adamant that true security lies in addressing root causes, and in empowering citizens—especially young ones—to build a peaceful and united Nigeria.
As the country continues to grapple with complex and evolving threats, General Musa’s blueprint offers a timely reminder: the path to peace is not paved with weapons alone, but with vision, values and collective action.
And at the heart of that journey lies a simple yet transformative idea: peace is everyone’s responsibility.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
