The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd), has identified four major obstacles undermining efforts to restore lasting peace and stability in the country.
In an interview with BBC Hausa Service, observed by our correspondent in Kaduna, Musa stated that the Federal Government is taking a holistic approach to security by merging military actions with non-kinetic methods
He recognized that major challenges persist, emphasizing the critical necessity to secure Nigeria’s borders to stop the entry and movement of criminal elements.
For more than 15 years, Nigeria has fought against the Boko Haram insurgency, which continues to launch intermittent attacks that hinder agricultural and fishing operations, particularly in the North-East. In the South-East, separatist movements associated with IPOB have continued, with armed factions enforcing unlawful sit-at-home mandates and reportedly executing targeted killings of civilians.
In the same way, enduring clashes between farmers and herders persist in unsettling regions of North-Central Nigeria, whereas banditry, large-scale murders, and ransom kidnappings in the Northwest have resulted in significant displacement and economic downturn.
Although government actions, such as setting up new military installations in critical areas and acquiring arms from abroad, have been taken, the security environment continues to be unstable.
Describing the difficulties, Musa, appointed as Defense Minister fewer than three months ago, highlighted these essential elements:
- Intelligence Compromise and Community Collaboration with Criminals.
Musa lamented that some local residents aid bandits by supplying food, logistics, and sensitive information on troop movements.
“We are appealing to people to stop dealing with these criminals. Those who feed them, sell goods to them, or give them information should desist. Any money earned from such dealings is blood money, and God will hold everyone accountable,” he warned.
He stressed the importance of community collaboration in combating banditry and terrorism, mentioning that Nigeria is also partnering with neighboring nations like Niger, Chad, Cameroon, and Benin as security challenges cross borders.
- Porous Borders
The defense minister stated that Nigeria’s extensive and poorly secured borders have enabled foreign criminals to enter the country, carry out attacks, and escape easily.
He disclosed plans to strengthen border security, including the possibility of constructing physical barriers in strategic areas to curb illegal crossings and arms smuggling.
“If we build border barriers, it will help prevent criminals from bringing in weapons and freely entering the country to commit crimes and flee,” he said.
- Lack of Credible Intelligence
Emphasizing the importance of grassroots intelligence, the minister urged citizens to provide timely and reliable information to security agencies.
“People should understand that whenever they see these criminals, they should find a way to report to us.
“When we were in Maiduguri, this was what helped us most. That is why we keep appealing to the public to stop collaborating with them and instead give us useful intelligence,” he explained.
- Negotiation and Payment of Ransom
Musa strongly kicked against dialogue, amnesty, or ransom payments as viable solutions to banditry and terrorism. He cautioned state governments and communities against engaging in negotiations with armed groups.
“These people do not understand peace talks. It is all deception. Whenever they come for dialogue, they want something. If you agree, they will turn against you again,” he said.
According to him, ransom payments and negotiations only encourage terrorists by making terrorism appear profitable, leading to the emergence of more armed groups.
“It undermines our efforts because once this happens, everyone feels entitled to negotiate so they won’t be attacked, while the killing continues,” the Defence Minister added.
The Defence Minister concluded by calling for collective national resolve, stressing that defeating insecurity requires discipline, cooperation, and an end to all forms of support for criminal networks.
