The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has said Nigeria’s battle against terrorism, banditry and insurgency remains challenging because criminal groups continue to receive support from sponsors and some members of the public.
Speaking on Friday at the 2026 edition of The Platform Nigeria 2026, Musa said terrorists and bandits are able to survive largely because they receive food, information, logistics and financial support from individuals within communities.
The event, organised by The Covenant Nation and hosted by its founder, Poju Oyemade, focused on the theme, “Governance, Democracy and National Security.”
According to the defence minister, security agencies cannot win the fight against insecurity without the active support of citizens. He stressed that criminal groups depend on local collaborators to sustain their operations, describing such support as the “oxygen” that keeps them alive.
Musa questioned who provides funding, intelligence and logistics for terrorists and bandits, arguing that many of those helping them are ordinary citizens living within affected communities.
He noted that modern security threats are more complex than traditional warfare because the enemy is often hidden among the people rather than being a clearly identifiable external force.
Unlike conventional wars between countries, he explained, today’s security challenges involve individuals operating from within communities, making it harder for security agencies to identify and neutralise threats.
The minister maintained that no matter how hard the military and other security agencies work, lasting success will remain difficult without public cooperation. He therefore urged Nigerians to reject criminal elements, expose their sponsors and work together to strengthen national security.
Musa also called for greater unity among Nigerians, warning that terrorists and other criminal groups often exploit divisions within society to advance their activities.
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