The Minister of Defence, retired Gen. Christopher Musa, has attributed the persistence of insecurity in Nigeria to the actions of individuals and communities that harbour bandits, terrorists and other criminal elements.
Musa made the remarks on Saturday night in Abuja, noting that the country is facing a complex and evolving security challenge that cannot be resolved through military action alone. He stressed that active public cooperation is essential to defeating criminality.
Describing the situation as asymmetric warfare, the minister explained that the threat differs from conventional conflicts between nations, as the enemy often operates from within society, making the challenge more dangerous.
According to him, many criminals live among law-abiding citizens, disguising themselves as ordinary people, which underscores the importance of intelligence sharing and timely reporting to security agencies.
Musa urged Nigerians not to provide safe haven for criminals and called on citizens to report cases of banditry, kidnapping, terrorism and insurgency, assuring that security agencies would act decisively on credible information.
He added that the nation’s security situation is gradually improving, attributing the gains to sustained military operations, better intelligence gathering and increasing public support, while emphasising that peace requires a collective, whole-of-society effort.
Earlier, in a goodwill message, the Emir of Doma Kingdom, Alhaji Ahmadu Onawu, described OurNigeria as more than a publication, saying it symbolises patriotism, hope and national rebirth.
Onawu noted that Nigeria is endowed with abundant human and natural resources and has no justification for remaining poor, stressing that the real challenge lies in the failure to effectively utilise these resources for nation-building and sustainable development.
He called on Nigerians, irrespective of status, to take responsibility for building a prosperous and self-reliant nation, warning that future generations would assess the present by the legacy it leaves behind.