Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), has declared that Nigeria has made significant progress in the fight against terrorism, saying attacks by Boko Haram, ISWAP and other insurgent groups are no longer as rampant as they were in the past.
Musa stated this on Thursday while appearing on Channels Television’s Politics Today monitored by The News Chronicle, where he said the security situation had improved considerably under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
According to him, the changing pattern of insecurity was evidence that military operations had weakened terrorist groups and pushed them away from large-scale attacks towards kidnapping and abductions as alternative sources of funding.
“I can tell you there is improved security,” Musa said, adding that Boko Haram and ISWAP attacks were now mostly isolated incidents.
He explained that the security threat had evolved from criminality to kidnapping, terrorism and insurgency, but sustained military pressure was now forcing the groups to retreat.
Musa said troops were increasingly entering terrorist enclaves and rescuing abducted persons, stressing that the military would continue to intensify operations until the remaining threats were eliminated.
The minister also warned governors and lawmakers against distributing motorcycles as palliatives, saying some of the motorcycles eventually find their way into the hands of terrorists and are subsequently used to facilitate their operations.
On the controversial N5.41 trillion allocation for defence and security in the 2026 budget, Musa defended the figure, arguing that modern warfare is increasingly expensive and requires substantial investment in equipment, personnel and other capabilities.
Addressing the 2027 elections, Musa also insisted that his involvement in the All Progressives Congress presidential campaign structure would not compromise his professionalism as Defence Minister. He pledged that the security agencies would work with all political parties to ensure peaceful elections.
The minister further weighed in on the security situation in Kaduna State, accusing former governor Nasir El-Rufai of actions that, according to him, deepened divisions in the state and contributed to the grievances in Southern Kaduna.
Musa’s comments come amid continuing security challenges across parts of the country, particularly kidnapping and banditry, even as the Federal Government maintains that military pressure has significantly degraded terrorist and insurgent groups.
