Defense Minister Christopher Musa gave the Tinubu administration a security performance rating ranging from 65 to 70%.
He claimed that terrorism has been reduced to isolated kidnapping cases, despite the fact that a wave of school abductions across multiple states continued to pose a significant problem to the nation.
Musa spoke during an interview on ARISE News on Friday to commemorate the three-year anniversary of his administration.
“I’ll give us 65 to 70,” he said when asked to rate the government’s performance, adding that no nation was entirely free from crime.
“Yes. 65 to 70%. No nation is totally free from crime and criminality. I’m sure you are aware that the level of terrorism across the country has actually drastically reduced. Now we have acts of terrorism, and terrorism, like I said, is a social vice, a failure of family values,” he said.
The minister presented kidnapping mostly as a cultural catastrophe rather than a security failing, referring to the breakdown of family structure as the root cause.
“We have fathers kidnapping children, children kidnapping each other, brothers kidnapping sisters. It tells you that something is wrong with the family, and we need to look inward to see how we can develop those aspects,” he said.
His remarks follow a recent wave of school abductions in Borno and Oyo states.
At least 82 students were kidnapped between May 13 and 15, with 42 kidnapped in Askira Uba and Chibok local government areas in Borno and 40 abducted in Oyo during coordinated attacks on Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, and Community Grammar School.
During the Oyo incident, the gunmen decapitated mathematics instructor Michael Oyedokun, killed a motorcyclist, and killed a security guard after running into improvised explosive devices left by the abductors during early rescue efforts.
The Defense Headquarters blamed the Oyo kidnapping on JAS militants who had been driven from other parts of the country as a result of high-intensity military operations.
Following the Borno attack, the state government temporarily closed and relocated Government Day Secondary School in Mussa, Askira/Uba LGA.
During the Oyo incident, the gunmen decapitated mathematics instructor Michael Oyedokun, killed a motorcyclist, and killed a security guard after running into improvised explosive devices left by the abductors during early rescue efforts.
The Defense Headquarters blamed the Oyo kidnapping on JAS militants who had been driven from other parts of the country as a result of high-intensity military operations.
Following the Borno attack, the state government temporarily closed and relocated Government Day Secondary School in Mussa, Askira/Uba LGA.
The Oyo and Borno abductions are the most recent examples of a long-running pattern. In April, gunmen attacked an orphanage and school facility in the Zariagi district of Lokoja, Kogi State, abducting 23 students and the wife of the school’s proprietor.
The remaining nine victims were recovered by troops from the Nigerian Army’s 12 Brigade on May 6, 2026, during coordinated operations known as Operation Tiger Paw II.
In November 2025, Nigeria experienced a resurgence of mass abductions, with at least 145 people kidnapped in Kebbi, Niger, and Zamfara states in just four days.
Among these incidents was a raid on a government secondary school in Maga, Kebbi State, in which bandits murdered the vice principal and kidnapped 25 schoolgirls from their hostel.
Musa stated that those engaged in kidnapping were driven by greed and a refusal to embrace honest labor, calling for a shift in values around wealth creation.
“People need to understand that to make money, you must work very hard. Don’t look for shortcuts. Most of those taking part in kidnappings and related crimes are looking for shortcuts,” he said.
The minister cited a recent covert operation as evidence of increased operational capacity, claiming that Nigerian forces had killed a deputy ISIS commander after months of careful tracking.
“The recent killing of that deputy ISIS commander was a painstaking operation that began since last year. We followed through, ensured we were certain of our target, and when we struck, we got them. That is what we are doing,” Musa said.
He noted that the security forces were receiving greater public cooperation than in previous years, which he described as a significant operational advantage.
“The level of support we’re getting is far better than it used to be, and we’re making more inroads. Nigerians are working with us, and I want to appreciate them,” he said.
Musa also emphasized the importance of strengthening international collaborations, stating that the United States, United Kingdom, France, Brazil, and Turkey are actively offering platforms and knowledge to Nigeria’s counter-terrorism efforts.
“We are working with our partners, the Americans, the British, and the French; all of them want Nigeria to succeed. They are bringing platforms we don’t have, and we are working together,” he said.
He warned that allowing terrorism to spread would have long-term ramifications, citing Turkey’s four-decade fight as a cautionary example.
“Do not allow asymmetric warfare to commence. Do not allow acts of terrorism to take root; it is extremely difficult to reverse. Look at Turkey. It took them 40 years, and it is only now that they are getting over it. We are learning from them, partnering with them, developing our special forces, and getting experience.
“We are also working with the French and the Brazilians. Everyone is putting hands on deck to ensure we achieve success,” Musa added.
