TRT Global
|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Claim: A Facebook page, Sierra Gist claimed that Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has proposed closing the country’s land borders with Cameroon, Niger, Benin, and Chad.
Verdict: False. General Musa proposed fencing Nigeria’s borders, not closing them. His statement focused on improving border security infrastructure, not halting all cross-border movement.
Full Text
A Facebook page, Sierra Gist TV, shared a post claiming that Nigeria’s top military officer, General Christopher Musa, is calling for the complete closure of the country’s land borders with neighbouring states as a counter-insurgency measure. The post alleges that the move aims to stop jihadist attacks and boost national security, especially in the Northeast region that has battled insurgency for over 16 years. It further emphasises that this would be the first time a senior military leader has made such a strict public call for border closure.
The post includes a photo of General Musa in uniform, which has garnered attention on social media. Given Nigeria’s complex security challenges and regional trade commitments under ECOWAS, such a move, if true, would mark a drastic shift in policy and military posture.
Due to the seriousness of this claim and its potential impact on public opinion and regional relations, DUBAWA conducted a thorough investigation.
Verification
DUBAWA contacted Sierra Gist to demand the source and evidence for the claim. But there was no response.
The researcher then reviewed a Reuters YouTube Video in which General Musa clearly outlined his recommendations at a recent national security conference in Abuja. In the video, he mentions a proposal to close Nigeria’s borders. Instead, he advocates for fencing the borders, citing examples like Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, to reduce the ease of armed group infiltration.
General Musa stated:
“If countries like Pakistan and Saudi Arabia can fence their borders for effective control, why not Nigeria?”
The Full Reuters article on the proposal also corroborates this fact: “Nigeria’s defence chief proposes fencing borders to curb insecurity.”
Further checks across reputable Nigerian media platforms affirm that General Musa’s proposal has been consistently reported as a fencing recommendation, not a closure. These include:
Punch Newspaper, which quoted Musa directly blaming porous borders for security breaches and recommending fencing as a national strategy.
Nigerian Tribune reported that General Musa called for fencing to tackle insecurity.
The Nation Nigeria Newspaper reported that CDS Musa calls for border fencing to curb terrorism and transborder crimes.
The Lead highlighted the CDS’s assurance to neighbouring countries that Nigeria would not allow its land to be used as a base to attack others, further contradicting any intent to close borders.
Furthermore, the claimant couldn’t respond to DUBAWA when asked to provide proof of his claim or at least the source of his claim.
These reports collectively confirm that Sierra Gist TV misrepresented the general’s statement. He focused on improving border infrastructure through fencing, not stopping legitimate cross-border movement. His address acknowledged Nigeria’s responsibility to maintain open but secure relationships with its neighbours.
Conclusion
The claim that General Christopher Musa proposed closing Nigeria’s land borders with its neighbours is false. Verified video and media reports consistently show that the Chief of Defence Staff only recommended fencing the borders, not sealing them off. This clarification is necessary, particularly given that misinformation fuels unnecessary public tension.
