HURIWA gives nod to Defence Minister’s  counterterrorism strategy

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called on Nigerians and civil society organisations to rally behind Christopher  Musa, Minister of Defence, in what it described as a critical phase of Nigeria’s counterterrorism campaign.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by  Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA’s National Coordinator,  the pro-democracy advocacy group said the current leadership of the Ministry of Defence is laying the groundwork for a more effective and coordinated security architecture, noting that behind-the-scenes efforts are already underway to reposition the country’s war against terrorism.

HURIWA also endorsed the position of Olufemi Oluyede, Chief of Defence Staff,  who recently urged communities in Nigeria’s North-East to collaborate closely with security agencies.

The group said such cooperation is essential to dismantling terrorist networks, particularly those embedded within local communities affected by insurgency.

According to HURIWA, the call for civilian-military collaboration is justified given the persistent threat posed by extremist groups such as Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province, which continue to exploit local vulnerabilities to sustain their operations.

The group welcomed a recent agreement between Nigeria’s Ministry of Defence and UK-based firm MARSS for a national Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence (C4I) programme valued at over $190 million.

HURIWA described the deal, signed in London on March 19, 2026, as a “major leap” towards modernising Nigeria’s defence capabilities.

The multi-year initiative will deploy MARSS’s NiDAR artificial intelligence-enabled system to create what officials describe as the country’s first fully integrated national defence architecture.

The programme, according to HURIWA, will establish a central command centre alongside regional hubs, all connected to an extensive network of sensors, unmanned aerial vehicles, and operational platforms.

“This integration aims to deliver real-time intelligence and a unified operational picture across both air and land domains”, it added.

Reacting to the agreement, Lord Coaker, UK Defence Minister, highlighted the deepening security ties between both nations, describing the partnership as a demonstration of strengthened bilateral cooperation in tackling terrorism.

HURIWA urged civil society leaders across Nigeria to actively support the Defence Ministry’s reform agenda, particularly in advocating for improved military welfare, acquisition of modern combat equipment, and sustained operational funding.

The group stressed that boosting troop morale and equipping personnel with advanced weaponry would significantly enhance the effectiveness of ongoing operations against insurgents.

The advocacy organisation also reiterated its support for directives issued by Musa, the Defence Minister, during his Senate screening, where he instructed troops to engage armed criminals immediately upon encounter without waiting for additional authorisation.

HURIWA argued that such a proactive combat approach is necessary to reduce casualties among military personnel and restore confidence in Nigeria’s security response.

 It maintained that hesitation in the field has, in the past, contributed to avoidable losses.

However, the group cautioned that the success of this strategy depends heavily on the provision of adequate and sophisticated weapons to match the increasing coordination and firepower of insurgent groups.

HURIWA rejected ongoing reintegration programmes for repentant insurgents, instead advocating a more hardline approach aimed at completely dismantling terrorist networks.

The group insisted that a decisive and uncompromising strategy is required to end the insurgency and secure lives and property across the country.