According to a report by the Punch on Saturday, June 13, 2026, the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), has warned that Nigeria’s fight against terrorism, banditry and insurgency is being severely undermined by internal collaborators who actively assist criminal groups across the country.
He made the remarks on Friday at the 2026 edition of The Platform Nigeria, a Democracy Day forum held in Lagos and monitored via Channels Television, where he discussed the link between governance, public participation and national security.
Speaking on the theme, “Governance, Democracy and National Security,” Musa explained that terrorist and bandit networks do not operate in isolation, but depend heavily on support systems within communities. He noted that these groups survive on supplies, intelligence gathering, financial backing and logistical assistance that often come from people living among the same populations affected by violence.
According to him, this internal support structure is one of the main reasons insecurity remains persistent despite ongoing military operations and security interventions across different regions of the country. He stressed that without cutting off these local networks, security agencies will continue to face significant challenges in fully dismantling criminal operations.
Musa further explained that modern insecurity differs from traditional warfare, where enemies are usually external and easily identified. Today, he said, threats are often embedded within society itself, making it difficult to distinguish between ordinary civilians and those secretly working with armed groups.
He cautioned that this hidden dimension of insecurity makes the situation more dangerous, as it allows individuals who appear harmless or trusted within communities to potentially collaborate with or support violent actors. In his words, “That individual whom you are protecting may be the number one enemy trying to take you out immediately he gets the chance,” underscoring the risks of misplaced trust in environments where infiltration is possible.
Arise News
