Nigeria’s Defence Minister, General Christopher Musa (retired), has shed light on the persistent challenges of terrorism, banditry, and other security threats facing the nation. Speaking at The Platform event organized by The Covenant Nation in Lagos, he attributed the difficulty to the support these criminal elements receive from local communities.
“Banditry, insurgency, terrorism. Why does it seem so difficult to deal with it? Perhaps, we have the people that are also encouraging and supporting these things from happening because the terrorists, the bandits, survive around the people,” he stated. He highlighted how reports indicate that civilians often aid these groups by providing food, water, and information, which he described as the “oxygen” that sustains them.
The Minister questioned, “Who is funding them? Who are those giving them information? Who are those giving them the logistics that keep them going? It is still the people.” He noted that modern security threats are increasingly complex because criminals frequently blend into civilian populations, making it challenging for security forces to identify and isolate them.
General Musa emphasized that the armed forces and other security agencies cannot succeed without public cooperation. He urged all Nigerians to report suspicious activities and actively support ongoing security initiatives to combat insecurity effectively.