ABUJA, Nigeria — Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa has emphasized that military operations alone cannot end the Boko Haram insurgency, calling on Nigerians to embrace peace, unity and shared nationhood to secure lasting stability.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Musa delivered the message during a security forum in Abuja, where he urged citizens, community leaders and government stakeholders to see the fight against terrorism as a collective responsibility. He noted that while the armed forces have made gains on the battlefield, sustainable peace requires reconciliation, dialogue and development.

“The military is doing its best and has recorded successes, but guns and bombs will not be enough,” Musa said. “For us to defeat Boko Haram and all forms of extremism, Nigerians must unite, embrace peace and work together as one people.”

The Defence Chief acknowledged that Boko Haram, which began its violent campaign in northeastern Nigeria in 2009, has caused deep social and economic scars across the region. The conflict has displaced more than two million people and disrupted livelihoods, education and healthcare. Despite years of military offensives and regional cooperation, sporadic attacks continue, particularly in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.

Musa explained that the government’s counter-insurgency strategy includes not only combat operations but also rehabilitation and reintegration of repentant fighters, as well as community support programs aimed at healing divisions. He said communities must welcome these efforts to ensure that violence does not resurface.

“Peace is not just the absence of war; it is when people can live without fear and can build a future for their children,” he said. “The military can create space for peace, but only society can fill that space with trust and reconciliation.”

Security experts have echoed Musa’s remarks, noting that insurgencies thrive when poverty, unemployment and mistrust go unaddressed. Analysts argue that strengthening education, job creation and local governance are essential to undercutting extremist influence.

Residents in the Northeast have also called for more attention to rebuilding infrastructure and restoring basic services in areas liberated from insurgents. Many communities remain without schools, clinics or safe roads, making recovery slow and fragile.

Musa further stressed the importance of religious and traditional leaders in shaping public attitudes toward peace. He urged clerics to use their platforms to discourage extremist ideologies and encourage tolerance among followers.

“Nationhood is not about ethnicity or religion, it is about our collective survival as Nigerians,” Musa said. “If we unite, no extremist group can defeat us.”

Since 2015, the Nigerian military, working with neighboring Chad, Niger and Cameroon under the Multinational Joint Task Force, has reclaimed large territories once held by Boko Haram. However, splinter groups such as the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) continue to operate, staging ambushes and attacks on both civilians and security forces.

Humanitarian agencies say more than 350,000 people have died directly or indirectly from the conflict over the past decade, mostly from hunger, disease and lack of services. International partners, including the United Nations and African Union, have urged Nigeria to combine military measures with peacebuilding and humanitarian support.

Musa assured that the armed forces remain committed to protecting lives and property but repeated that citizens must play their part. “The fight is not only for soldiers. It is for every Nigerian who desires a peaceful and united country,” he said.

His remarks come as the government intensifies efforts to resettle displaced persons and restore normalcy in affected regions. With ongoing challenges of insecurity, analysts say the call for peace beyond military action may be the country’s best hope for a lasting solution.