‘Friend of a Thief Is a Thief’: CDS Musa Sends Strong Message to Gumi
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has issued a scathing and uncompromising message to individuals advocating for or negotiating with bandits, stating emphatically that a CDS Musa Warns Gumi and other sympathizers that “the friend of a thief is a thief.”
This bold declaration was made during a high level engagement where the military head addressed the persistent interference of certain non state actors in the nation’s security operations. General Musa’s comments represent a significant hardening of the military’s stance against those who provide a platform or diplomatic cover for terrorists under the guise of mediation or religious intervention.
The General’s remarks were widely interpreted as a direct response to the controversial activities of Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, who has frequently advocated for amnesty for bandits, arguing that they are victims of historical neglect. However, the Chief of Defence Staff dismissed these sentiments, asserting that anyone who justifies the actions of killers, kidnappers, and terrorists is effectively an accomplice to the crimes being committed against the Nigerian people.
By using the proverb “friend of a thief is a thief,” Musa signaled that the military will no longer tolerate the blurred lines between advocacy and collusion, suggesting that such intermediaries may soon face legal or tactical scrutiny.
During the session, General Musa emphasized that the Nigerian Armed Forces are not interested in a “business as usual” approach to insurgency. He clarified that the military’s primary mandate is to protect the territorial integrity of the country and the lives of its citizens, not to participate in endless negotiations that only embolden criminals.
The General noted that every time a sympathetic voice rises to defend these groups, it undermines the morale of the troops on the front lines and provides the enemy with a psychological advantage. He insisted that the only language the bandits currently understand is the force of arms, and the military is fully prepared to deliver that until peace is restored.
This stern warning comes at a time when the security forces are intensifying their kinetic operations in the North West and North Central regions. General Musa urged all Nigerians, particularly influential leaders and clerics, to align themselves with the state rather than creating a moral vacuum that favors outlaws.
READ ALSO: “I Was Marked for Elimination”: Dr. Sheikh Gumi Speaks on US-Nigeria Airstrike
He concluded by reiterating that the military remains open to those who wish to surrender unconditionally, but it will have no mercy for those who continue to terrorize the public or for those prominent individuals who provide them with ideological or logistical cover. The era of treating “sympathizers” with kid gloves appears to have officially ended.