Nigeria Defence Minister urges public unity and better data to curb insecurity

Nigeria’s defence leadership highlighted the country’s deepening insecurity and called for broader public involvement. Defence Minister General Christopher Musa (retd.) told a national audience that security forces are also victims, stressing that “all Nigerians, including the security forces, are victims” and urging citizens to support troops, report suspicious activity and help build a comprehensive national database for intelligence sharing. He warned that local collaborators provide food, water, logistics and information that sustain terrorist, bandit and kidnapping groups, describing this assistance as “the oxygen” for the insurgents. Musa also called for modern technology—AI, drones, biometric systems—to improve tracking of criminals.

Minister of State for Defence Bello Matawalle echoed the need for collective action, stating that ending insecurity “requires divine intervention, prayers, and the cooperation of Nigerians with security agencies.” He criticized opposition politicians for politicising the crisis and warned against circulating outdated or foreign videos that misrepresent the security situation. Both officials emphasized that insecurity affects all regions and communities, and that cooperation between the government, private sector and the public is essential to restore peace.