The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd), has dismissed reports claiming that the Nigerian Armed Forces are recruiting underage soldiers in operations against terrorism and criminal networks.

Speaking to newsmen at the State House in Abuja following a National Security Council meeting with President Bola Tinubu, Gen. Musa emphasized that the Nigerian military operates under strict professional standards and does not enlist minors.

"There is nobody that is underage that is being brought here," Musa stated. "I think the discussion that was made was that the accusation was on the terrorists using the underage... we know that we don't have control over what they do, and that's why it's important for us to understand that we must not allow them to remain wherever they are."

Key Takeaways From the Briefing

  • Presidential Order on Rescue Operations: President Bola Tinubu issued a direct mandate to security forces to track down and rescue all abducted citizens, warning that no terrorist or bandit camps should be allowed to exist in Nigeria.

  • New Military Aircraft Procurement: The federal government will soon commission 10 new aircraft and helicopters to significantly boost the country's aerial surveillance and operational power against insurgents.

  • Salary Reviews Across Agencies: Following the recent salary increment for military personnel, plans are underway to extend pay increases to the Nigeria Police Force, paramilitary agencies, and military pensioners.

  • Call for Shared Responsibility: The Defence Minister urged citizens to actively support security agencies by sharing actionable intelligence and reporting any misconduct by security officers.

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