The Berom Educational and Cultural Organisation (BECO) Worldwide has welcomed President Bola Tinubu’s appointment of former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, as Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, describing it as a development that has revived hopes for a more determined response to insecurity across Plateau State and the wider Middle Belt.
This was contained in an interview with journalists, where BECO Worldwide President, Da Gyang Dudu Dalyop, said the organisation views the appointment as “a renewed window of opportunity” for communities that have repeatedly called for stronger federal intervention.
He recalled that a few weeks ago, a National Assembly visitation panel met with the Berom community over concerns about persistent killings and unresolved security breaches.
According to him, the removal of Gen. Musa as CDS earlier in the year “left many Middle Belt communities uneasy,” given his record in operational command and his perceived understanding of the region’s security dynamics.
“In our view, the President’s decision to appoint him as Defence Minister is a clear signal that the government wants to confront this crisis with seriousness,” he said.
“General Musa has a proven record from his time as Theatre Commander and as CDS. We believe his return at this critical time is one of the most strategic leadership steps taken in recent political history.”
Da Gyang stressed that beyond the appointment, what matters most is the political will to act on existing intelligence, field assessments and the recommendations already submitted to the government.
He also noted that the issue has never been a lack of reports or strategies.“The problem is not policy; it is will. We have had committees, we have had panels, and we have had briefings—what we need now is execution. If the political will is applied and Gen. Musa is given a free hand, the Nigerian military has the capacity to tackle these non-state actors decisively. That is why his appointment gives us renewed hope, but the hope must translate into swift action.”
He noted that the Defence Minister must also be able to interrogate security briefings, defend operational budgets and deploy resources without undue interference, insisting that Musa’s long service experience places him in a strong position to demand accountability across security institutions.
Da Gyang also called for a thorough review of the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Department of State Services, saying lapses in intelligence and coordination must be addressed if progress is to be made. He added that Plateau communities—including the Mwaghavul Development Association and the Irigwe Development Association—must work in synergy, share information and avoid acting in isolation.
“Security is everybody’s business,Communities must support the Defence Minister, share alerts, cooperate with the security agencies and ensure that perpetrators are identified and brought to justice. That unity is the only way this appointment can achieve the impact we all expect.” he stated.
With the Christmas season approaching, he urged both security agencies and residents to remain vigilant and avoid panic, especially with the widespread use of fireworks which could create confusion.
He appealed for calm, discipline and timely reporting of suspicious activity.Da Gyang also commended his executive council and the Berom nation at home and abroad for their commitment to sustaining peace efforts, while acknowledging the role of Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo “whose courage contributed to drawing international attention to the crisis and putting government agencies on alert.”
He closed with a prayer for President Tinubu’s continued wisdom and for Gen. Musa’s success in driving a more effective national defence response.
