Minister of Defence Christopher Musa has said the fight against terrorism, banditry, and other security threats remains challenging because criminal groups continue to receive support from individuals within local communities.
Speaking on Friday at the June 12 edition of The Platform, organised by The Covenant Nation in Lagos and broadcast on Channels Television, Musa said insurgents and bandits depend on community-based assistance to sustain their operations.
“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.
“There are several stories of how people have aided them in giving them food, giving them water, and giving them information, and these are the things that keep them going, and we call this the oxygen.”
“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 added.
Musa’s remarks come amid continued military operations against insurgents and growing public concern over persistent attacks across parts of the country.
He noted that unlike conventional warfare between nations, modern security threats often originate from within communities, making them more difficult to combat.
“Conventional warfare in the past used to be state to state, country to country, so you know who your enemy is. The most dangerous aspects of battle or campaign is when the enemy is within,” he said.
The minister stressed that security agencies cannot win the fight against insecurity without the active cooperation of citizens.
“The armed forces, the security agencies, no matter what they do, if the people are not ready to support, it makes it extremely very difficult,” he said.
He urged Nigerians to assist security agencies by sharing information and reporting suspicious activities, while emphasising the importance of national unity.
“We must continue to work in unity because it is these gaps that exist between us that this individual sees and try to expand to separate us and divide us and we must not let that happen,” he said.
Reflecting on Democracy Day, Musa described June 12 as a symbol of sacrifice and the struggle for democratic governance, adding that democracy can only thrive where there is security and stability.
“No democracy can flourish where fear dominates daily life. No democracy can deliver prosperity where violence disrupts communities,” he said.
He argued that modern security challenges require more than military action, highlighting the need for intelligence gathering, technology, institutional collaboration, and citizen participation.
Musa also warned about the impact of misinformation and disinformation, saying false narratives circulated on social media can worsen insecurity and undermine public confidence.
The minister pointed to instability in the Sahel region, particularly in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, as factors contributing to Nigeria’s security challenges through the movement of arms and other threats across borders.
He maintained that sustainable peace depends on collaboration between citizens and institutions.
“The security forces are not the enemies of the state. In fact, what I always say is that we are all victims,” he said.
Calling for greater unity, Musa warned against ethnic, religious, and political divisions that could be exploited by criminal elements.
“We are all Nigerians, God doesn’t make mistakes, he has a purpose for putting us together,” he said.
Addressing young Nigerians, he urged them to protect and strengthen the democratic gains secured by previous generations.
“To our young people, I say this, the generation that fought for June 12th secured democracy. The responsibility of our generation was to secure it, strengthen it, and pass it on stronger than we received it,” he said.
He also emphasised the importance of civic responsibility, stating that “Patriotism means doing what is right even when no one is watching.”
Quoting President Bola Tinubu, Musa added: “Nigeria will not surrender to fear. We will not allow terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, or violent extremists to define who we are as a people.”
He concluded by saying Nigeria’s future depends on strengthening security, fostering unity, and pursuing a shared national vision.