Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (Rtd), has said the administration of President Bola Tinubu has recorded between 65 and 70 per cent success in tackling insecurity, terrorism, and other security threats across the country.
Speaking during an interview on ARISE TV to mark President Tinubu’s third year in office, the defence minister said Nigeria had made major progress in reducing terrorist activities and improving national security.
According to Musa, incidents of terrorism have reduced significantly and are now largely limited to isolated attacks and kidnappings carried out by criminal groups seeking attention and financial gain.
“We will rate the government between 65 and 70 per cent in the fight against insecurity and terrorism. No country is completely free from crime, but the situation has improved greatly,” he said.
Kidnapping Linked to Declining Family Values
The defence minister described kidnapping as more of a societal problem than purely a security issue, blaming the growing trend on the collapse of family values and moral standards.
He lamented the increasing cases of relatives and close associates participating in abduction-related crimes.
“We now see fathers kidnapping children, brothers kidnapping sisters, and young people abducting one another. This shows that something is wrong within the family structure,” Musa stated.
He added that many kidnappers were motivated by greed and the desire to make quick money without legitimate work.
“People must understand that wealth comes through hard work, not shortcuts. Most of those involved in kidnapping are simply looking for easy ways to make money,” he added.
Security Forces Making Progress Against Terror Groups
Highlighting recent military achievements, Musa disclosed that Nigerian security operatives recently eliminated a deputy commander linked to ISIS after months of intelligence gathering and strategic operations.
He said the success reflected the growing operational strength of Nigeria’s security agencies and improved collaboration with citizens.
“The operation that led to the elimination of the deputy ISIS commander started last year. It was carefully planned and successfully executed,” he explained.
The minister praised Nigerians for increasingly supporting security agencies with intelligence and cooperation, describing public support as a major advantage in the ongoing fight against insecurity.
“The support from Nigerians is much better now than before, and it is helping security agencies make more progress,” he said.
Nigeria Expands International Security Partnerships
Musa also revealed that Nigeria is strengthening military and intelligence partnerships with countries including the United States, Britain, France, Brazil, and Turkey to improve counter-terrorism operations.
According to him, the international partners are providing technical support, training, and operational platforms to assist Nigeria in combating terrorism.
“We are collaborating with the Americans, British, French, Brazilians, and Turks. They all want Nigeria to succeed and are supporting us with expertise and platforms,” the minister noted.
He warned that allowing terrorism to become deeply rooted in Nigeria could create long-term security challenges similar to those experienced in Turkey over several decades.
“Once terrorism takes root, it becomes extremely difficult to defeat completely. We are learning from countries like Turkey and improving our special forces through partnerships and shared experience,” he said.
Amnesty International Raises Concern Over Rising Abductions
Musa’s comments come amid growing concerns over insecurity in parts of the country.
Recently, Amnesty International reported that no fewer than 1,100 people were abducted across Nigeria between January and April 2026, raising fresh concerns over the persistent threat of kidnapping and violent crimes.