Why banditry, terrorism seem difficult to deal with in Nigeria — Defence minister

Nigeria's Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, explained that the persistent challenges of terrorism and banditry in the country are partly due to support from individuals within local communities. Speaking at The Platform event in Lagos, Musa stated that criminal groups survive by drawing sustenance from the populace.

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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.

"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," Musa said. He elaborated that numerous instances exist of people providing food, water, and crucial information, which he described as the "oxygen" keeping these groups active. The minister directly questioned who is funding them, providing information, and supplying logistics, concluding that "It is still the people."

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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.

Musa's remarks come amid ongoing security operations and public frustration over persistent attacks across Nigeria. The nation has grappled with multifaceted insecurity for over a decade, including Boko Haram and ISWAP in the Northeast, and armed banditry devastating communities in the Northwest. Recently, terrorists expanded their reach into the South-West by kidnapping over 40 individuals in Oyo State.

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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.

Highlighting the shift in warfare, Musa noted that conventional conflicts were once state-to-state, making enemies clear. However, current threats are embedded within communities, making them more dangerous. He emphasized that security agencies' success is contingent on public cooperation, stating, "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 urged Nigerians to unite and support security efforts, reporting suspicious activities to counter the divisive tactics employed by adversaries.

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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.