Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), has said the military’s fight against banditry and terrorism remains difficult because criminal groups operate within and receive support from local communities.
Speaking on Thursday at an Arise Television Town Hall on State Police, Musa explained that insurgents often rely on residents for food, intelligence, and logistics, making it harder for security forces to identify and eliminate them.
He noted that the success of military operations largely depends on community cooperation, stressing that security agencies struggle when locals side with or fail to report insurgents.
Experts and recent reports have similarly highlighted that armed groups in Nigeria sustain their activities through local support networks, which serve as their “oxygen” and enable them to evade security operations.
Musa emphasized that tackling insecurity requires stronger collaboration between the military, government, and communities. He called for greater involvement of local governments, traditional rulers, and religious leaders in supporting security efforts.
According to him, improved engagement and trust between citizens and authorities are critical to weakening terrorist networks and restoring security across the country.
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