The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), has explained why the Nigerian Armed Forces face difficulties in tackling banditry and terrorism across the country.
According to him, one of the biggest challenges is the lack of cooperation from some communities, which makes it harder for security forces to defeat criminal groups.
Musa spoke on Thursday during Arise Television’s Town Hall programme on state police.
He said the support of local communities plays a key role in the fight against insecurity. According to him, when communities support insurgents, it becomes difficult for the military to succeed, but when they cooperate with security agencies, operations become more effective.
“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.
