Why Insecurity Thrives in Nigeria, Explains Defence Minister

The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (retd), has identified the shielding of criminals by individuals and communities as a major reason insecurity continues to thrive across Nigeria, warning that the fight against banditry and terrorism cannot be won by the military alone.

Musa made this known in Abuja while speaking at a public event, where he explained that Nigeria’s security challenges have become increasingly complex because criminals now live and operate within communities, making them difficult to identify and neutralise through conventional military operations. According to him, insecurity persists largely because some citizens knowingly or unknowingly protect bandits, kidnappers and terrorists by providing them with shelter, information or silence, thereby undermining the efforts of security agencies. The defence minister described the situation as a form of asymmetric warfare, noting that modern security threats are no longer fought on clear battlefields. He stressed that without timely and credible intelligence from the public, security forces are often forced to react rather than prevent attacks. Musa urged Nigerians to see security as a collective responsibility, calling on community leaders, traditional rulers and residents to cooperate fully with the military and other security agencies by reporting suspicious movements and criminal activities in their areas. He also highlighted the challenge of porous borders, which he said have allowed the influx of illegal arms and the movement of criminal elements across the country, further worsening insecurity. According to him, the Federal Government is strengthening border surveillance and inter-agency collaboration to curb the trend. The minister assured Nigerians that the armed forces remain committed to restoring peace and stability across the country, adding that ongoing reforms, improved intelligence sharing and better coordination among security agencies are already yielding results in some regions. He warned that anyone found aiding or sympathising with terrorists and bandits would be treated as an accomplice under the law, insisting that national security must take precedence over personal, ethnic or political interests.