The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, has issued a fierce directive to security forces, ordering them to eliminate bandits and terrorists immediately upon deployment without waiting for clearance from superiors.

General Musa warned that any soldier or security operative who hesitates or waits for administrative orders before neutralizing threats will be treated as a saboteur and classified alongside the terrorists.

The Minister handed down this definitive charge on Wednesday in Sokoto State during the official commissioning of 62 operational vehicles and advanced security equipment. The assets, valued at N27.1 billion, were procured by the Sokoto State Government to intensify ongoing counter-terrorism operations across the region.

Addressing the frontline troops directly, Musa eliminated any ambiguity regarding the rules of engagement.

"Once you are deployed, do not wait for any order from anybody to shoot any bandit or any terrorist," Musa stated emphatically. "I want to make that very loud and clear—anybody who refuses to shoot or kill any bandit or terrorist in the name of waiting for an order, we will treat you like a bandit."

In addition to the operational directive, the Defence Minister underscored the massive financial investment made into the security infrastructure, reminding the personnel of their accountability. He stressed that the N27.1 billion spent on the fleet could have funded other critical public sectors but was prioritized to ensure their safety and victory.

"It is important for those that will handle this equipment; this equipment cost billions of naira that could have been used for other aspects but have been dedicated to this," Musa noted. "So I want to charge you that you must maintain this equipment very well. We will come after a year to see how this equipment is doing."