The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has
expressed confidence in Nigeria's improving security landscape, rating the
country's counter-terrorism efforts between 65 and 70 percent.
Musa made this disclosure during an interview on Arise
Television on Friday, May 29.
While acknowledging that acts of terrorism and
kidnapping still occur, the Defence Minister emphasized that the situation has
improved significantly compared to previous years.
"The level of terrorism across the country has
actually drastically reduced," Musa stated. "No nation is totally
free from crime and criminality, but we are making meaningful progress."
The Minister attributed many of Nigeria's security
challenges to the breakdown of family values and poor social orientation,
noting that many individuals involved in kidnapping and other crimes are
seeking quick ways to make money.
"We've seen fathers kidnapping children, children
kidnapping each other, and brothers kidnapping sisters," Musa said.
"It tells you that there's something wrong with the family, and we need to
look inward."
He further suggested that some criminal activities
could be politically motivated, aimed at portraying the government as weak or
making the country appear ungovernable.
"Most of these people taking part in kidnappings
are looking for shortcuts," he explained. "And you can't rule out
politics—some are asking for one billion naira from individuals who cannot
possibly pay. That makes you wonder if it's acts of sabotage to make the
government look weak."
Despite the challenges, Musa praised the efforts of
the armed forces and security agencies, noting increased public support.
"The level of support we are getting is a lot
better than it used to be in the past, and we're making more inroads," he
concluded.
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