Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), has explained why the military faces significant challenges in tackling banditry and terrorism across Nigeria.
Speaking on Thursday during the ARISE Television Town Hall on State Police, Musa said one of the biggest obstacles is that many terrorists operate from within local communities.
He noted that the level of community support plays a crucial role in the success of military operations, stressing that security forces face greater difficulties when residents side with insurgents but gain an advantage when communities cooperate with the authorities.
“We’re in a democratic setting, and it’s about perception, and it is between the leaders and the led. Now, the led, are they feeling being led properly? Why are they not supporting the armed forces, or why are they not supporting the government?
“So, these are areas that we need to look at. When we work together between the armed forces and the communities and the government, then we’ll have a headway, and that’s why it is critical for us to keep on explaining and interacting with the communities, for them to have a better understanding that they have a role to play just as the government has a role to play.
“For us to succeed, our local governments must be up and doing, our communities must be up and doing, and we must give opportunities for traditional rulers, for religious leaders, for local governments to also contribute to the success and the security wherever they are, whatever community they operate in,” he said.
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