Why banditry, terrorism thrive in Nigeria –Defence Minister

The Minister of Defence, retired Gen. Christopher Musa, has said that insecurity continues to thrive in Nigeria when individuals and communities shield bandits, terrorists and other criminal elements from security agencies.
Musa stated this on Saturday night in Abuja at the 7th OurNigeria News Awards with the theme, “Resilience and Renewal”.
According to him, Nigeria is confronting a complex form of modern conflict that cannot be defeated by military action alone, stressing that public cooperation remains critical to ending criminality.
“This is asymmetric warfare. It is not like conventional warfare where you are fighting another country. In this case, the enemy is within, and that makes it more dangerous,” he said.
The minister explained that criminals often live and operate within communities, disguising themselves as ordinary citizens, which makes intelligence sharing and prompt reporting essential.
“You cannot see it on someone’s face. It could be someone you think is your friend or someone you trust. That is why people must not give criminals any safe haven,” Musa said.
He urged Nigerians to report any form of criminal activity, including banditry, kidnapping, terrorism and insurgency, assuring that security agencies would respond decisively.
Musa noted that the security situation across the country was gradually improving, attributing the progress to sustained military operations, enhanced intelligence gathering and growing public support.
“We are getting there. It is improving by the day. Peace is a whole-of-society effort, and everyone has a role to play,” he said.(NAN)