Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), has attributed the continued challenge of tackling terrorism, insurgency, and banditry in the country to the support criminal groups receive from sponsors and some members of the public.
Speaking on Friday during the 2026 edition of The Platform Nigeria, a national dialogue held to commemorate Democracy Day, Musa said terrorist and bandit groups rely heavily on local collaborators for sustenance, intelligence, logistics, and financial backing.
The event, hosted by Pastor Poju Oyemade, founder of The Covenant Nation, focused on the theme “Governance, Democracy and National Security.”
According to the defence minister, lasting success in the fight against insecurity can only be achieved when citizens actively reject and expose individuals assisting criminal elements.
He stressed that public cooperation remains critical to overcoming the country’s security challenges, noting that terrorists and bandits often operate with the aid of people living within affected communities.
Musa explained that criminal groups survive through access to food, water, information, transportation, and funding provided by sympathisers and collaborators. He described these forms of support as the “oxygen” that keeps such groups operational.
The minister also noted that modern security threats are more difficult to combat than conventional warfare because the enemy is often embedded within the same communities security forces are trying to protect.
Unlike traditional conflicts between nations where opponents are clearly identified, he said contemporary threats involve individuals who may appear harmless but secretly aid criminal networks.
He emphasized that security agencies alone cannot win the battle against insecurity without the active support of the public, regardless of the resources and efforts deployed.
Musa further urged Nigerians to remain united, warning that terrorist groups often exploit social, ethnic, and political divisions to advance their objectives and weaken national cohesion.
Meanwhile, former Senate President Bukola Saraki, who also spoke at the event, highlighted the importance of an independent legislature in sustaining democracy and ensuring accountability in governance.
Saraki argued that a parliament that merely endorses executive decisions without thorough scrutiny fails to perform its constitutional role. According to him, legislative independence should not be viewed as opposition to the government but as an essential component of credible and effective democratic governance.
He maintained that the ability of the National Assembly to critically examine government proposals strengthens public trust and reinforces the legitimacy of elected leaders.
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