Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has called on his counterparts across Africa to embrace advanced technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), as a crucial tool in the fight against terrorism and insurgency on the continent.
Speaking at the opening of the Africa Chiefs of Defence Staff Conference in Abuja on Monday, General Musa stressed that traditional warfare strategies alone are no longer sufficient to combat extremist groups such as Boko Haram, ISWAP, Al-Qaeda, and Al-Shabaab, which continue to destabilise parts of Africa.
“The battlefield is evolving. The threats of today are no longer confined to conventional warfare; they are digital, asymmetric and often invisible — the enemy is within,” Musa said. “As chiefs of defence staff, we must lead the charge in reorganising our forces and investing in cyber-defence, artificial intelligence, and indigenous military technology. Without these, achieving security will be near impossible.”
Reaffirming Nigeria’s dedication to regional peace and stability, Musa emphasised that defeating terrorism requires collective action, shared intelligence, and coordinated strategies among African nations.
“As host nation, Nigeria is deeply committed to regional stability and continental defence integration,” he noted. “Our Armed Forces have been actively involved in peacekeeping and counter-terrorism missions across Africa. True security is not achieved in isolation; it must be built through joint training, shared intelligence, and coordinated action.”
He urged defence chiefs to close ranks, overcome divisions, and strengthen unity to secure a future where African nations are no longer held hostage by insurgents.
“The challenges before us are great, but so too is our resolve,” Musa declared. “Let us rise above division and embrace unity. Together, we can build a continent where our people live free from fear, and where our Armed Forces stand as symbols of stability, professionalism, and pride.”
