‘Tough but Approachable’: Maiduguri Residents Split on Defence Chief Musa’s Leadership

BY: ADAMU ALIYU NGULDE, MAIDUGURI

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria — In Nigeria’s northeast, where Boko Haram’s terror campaign has killed tens of thousands, residents of Maiduguri have mixed feelings about General Christopher Musa, the nation’s Chief of Defence Staff. Some call him one of the most trusted commanders the city has seen. Others say insecurity under his watch is far from over.

Musa rose to prominence as commander of Operation Hadin Kai between 2021 and 2023. Locals recall a leader who left his office to meet soldiers in the bush and displaced families in camps. “He didn’t just sit in headquarters,” said Bukar Ali Korede, a trader. “He talked to us, and that gave people confidence.”

Supporters credit him with encouraging dialogue and rescuing women and children from Boko Haram captivity. “He was different from other commanders,” said Hajiya Amina Kyari, a Maiduguri community leader.

But critics argue that the violence never truly stopped. “He tried, but Boko Haram is still around, and bandits are spreading,” said Malam Ibrahim Musa, a local teacher. “We need more than promises. We need real rebuilding.”

The criticism is sharper abroad. In May, a diaspora group demanded Musa’s resignation after soldiers were abducted in Borno, blasting the military’s “embarrassing helplessness.”

Analysts say the divide captures the bigger problem: Musa may be respected locally, but as Defence Chief he faces a nationwide crisis. “He is admired in Maiduguri, but the challenges of Nigeria’s security are larger than any one commander,” said Kabiru Mohammed, a political scientist at the University of Maiduguri.