CG VGN Congratulates Gen. Musa on Appointment, Praises Tinubu for a Meritorious Choice

The Commander General of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN), Dr. Usman Mohammed Jahun, has applauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabiri Musa, as the new Minister of Defence.

In a congratulatory message released in Abuja by the Assistant Commander General in charge of Operations, Philip Friday Amanyi, the VGN Commander General described the appointment as a case of “putting the right peg in the right hole.

He noted that General Musa, an accomplished and seasoned military officer, possesses the professional authority required to rally the Service Chiefs in tackling banditry, kidnapping, Boko Haram terrorism, and other security threats facing the nation.

According to him, what Nigeria needs at this time is refreshed and decisive leadership within the security architecture to address prevailing national security challenges.

Dr. Jahun urged the new Defence Minister to apply his strategic expertise, leadership qualities, and experience to bolster the fight against insecurity and safeguard the country’s territorial integrity, as well as the lives and property of citizens.

While cautioning him not to betray the confidence reposed in him by President Tinubu, he called on all stakeholders to offer their collective support to ensure the success of the administration’s Renewed Hope agenda in the security sector.

He further assured that the VGN stands ready to collaborate with the Minister of Defence in combating banditry, kidnapping, Boko Haram terrorism, and other forms of criminality threatening national stability.

General Christopher Musa succeeds Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, who resigned on Monday.

Born in Sokoto in 1967, the 58-year-old General Musa is a distinguished military officer who served as Chief of Defence Staff from 2023 to October 2025. He completed his primary and secondary education in Sokoto before attending the College of Advanced Studies, Zaria. After graduating in 1986, he joined the Nigerian Defence Academy the same year and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1991.

Commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1991, General Musa has held several key appointments, including General Staff Officer 1, Training and Operations, at Headquarters 81 Division; Commanding Officer, 73 Battalion; Assistant Director, Operational Requirements, Department of Army Policy and Plans; and Infantry Representative/Member, Training Team, Headquarters Nigerian Army Armour Corps.

His notable roles also include serving in 2019 as Deputy Chief of Staff, Training and Operations, Headquarters Infantry Centre and Corps; Commander, Sector 3, Operation Lafiya Dole; and Commander, Sector 3, Multinational Joint Task Force in the Lake Chad region.

In 2021, he became Theatre Commander, Operation Hadin Kai, and later Commander of the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps before his appointment as Chief of Defence Staff in 2023 by President Tinubu.