Nigeria’s Defence Minister, Gen. Christopher Musa (rtd.), says the country has defeated terrorism.
Musa made the claim during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday.
He said terrorist attacks are no longer as frequent or bold as they were previously.
When asked if terrorists had been defeated or simply pushed elsewhere, Musa said, “Frankly speaking we have defeated t+rrorists because now, like I said, the att@cks are not as rampant and it is now k+dnapping.”
The minister pointed to fewer attacks linked to Boko Haram and ISWAP as signs of improved security.
“I can tell you there is improved security. Maybe if you noticed, you don’t hear so much of Boko Haram att@cks, ISWAP att@cks and all these things here and there, maybe one off,” he said.
According to Musa, insecurity can shift between different forms as security forces put pressure on criminal groups.
He said the country has moved from terrorism and insurgency towards abductions and kidnapping.
“Now I say, the trajectory is this, from criminality to k+dnapping to t+rrorism, insurgency once you are able to hit them it goes back downwards and so we are now back into the stage of abd ctions and k+dnappings because that is the easiest way for them to try and raise money,” he said.
Musa also said troops were entering terrorist hideouts and rescuing people who had been abducted.
The Nigeria terrorism fight remains a major security issue despite the minister’s claim of progress.
Musa also urged governors to stop distributing motorcycles as palliatives, warning they could reach terrorists.
“We try to appeal to any governor to stop giving out motorcycles as palliatives because these motorcycles are still the same ones that will end up with these t+rrorists,” he said.
He also stressed the need for effective local governments to help tackle insecurity.
The minister maintained that his role in the APC campaign team would not affect his professional duties.
“1 am a professional, I will never succumb to that level being partisan against opposition. Nigeria is my unit, whatever it takes to protect Nigeria that is what we stand for.”
