Nigeria’s Defence Minister, Christopher Musa, has rated the administration of Bola Tinubu between 65 and 70 per cent in its handling of security challenges across the country.
Speaking during an interview on ARISE News on Friday to mark the administration’s third anniversary, Musa said terrorism had been significantly reduced, although isolated kidnapping incidents remained a major concern.
According to the minister, no country is completely free from crime, but Nigeria has recorded notable progress in reducing terrorist activities through sustained military operations.
Musa described kidnapping as both a security and societal problem, blaming the trend partly on declining family values and the growing desire for quick wealth.
His comments come amid renewed concerns over school abductions in Borno State and Oyo State, where at least 82 pupils were kidnapped between May 13 and 15 during separate attacks.
In Borno, 42 pupils were abducted after attacks on schools in Askira Uba and Chibok Local Government Areas, while another 40 pupils were kidnapped in coordinated attacks on schools in Oriire Local Government Area.
The Oyo attack also resulted in the killing of a mathematics teacher, Michael Oyedokun, a motorcyclist and a security operative during rescue attempts.
Musa said recent counter-terrorism operations demonstrated improved operational capacity, citing the killing of a deputy ISIS commander after months of intelligence gathering and tracking.
He also noted increased collaboration with international partners, including the United States, Britain, France, Brazil and Turkey, in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism and insurgency.
The minister urged Nigerians to support security agencies and warned against allowing terrorism to take root, saying countries battling long-term insurgency often face decades of instability before recovery.
