The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has identified Nigeria’s porous borders as a major factor fueling the country’s insecurity, stating that illegal crossings allow terrorists, bandits, and kidnappers to move freely across the nation.
In an interview with the BBC, Musa outlined the federal government’s plans to deploy advanced surveillance technology and engage border communities to stem the flow of illicit movement, acknowledging that constructing physical barriers along Nigeria’s more than 4,000-kilometer land borders is impractical.
“Porous borders are one of the main reasons for insecurity in Nigeria,” the minister stated. “Maybe we cannot have physical walls everywhere, but there is technology we can deploy systematically. Once someone crosses, an alarm is triggered and we take action.”
He pointed to other nations with extensive borders that have successfully implemented similar tech-driven monitoring systems.
Community Engagement and Denial of Ransom Payments
Musa emphasized the importance of collaborating with communities residing near borders to deny support to criminal elements. “We need to create awareness and communicate with communities so they do not support terrorists in any way,” he said.
The minister also firmly denied allegations that the Nigerian government pays ransoms to kidnappers, asserting that many abductors abandon their victims when confronted by military forces. “We do not approve ransom payments for any reason,” he declared.
Response to U.S. Actions and Religious Claims
Musa referenced the recent U.S. airstrikes in Sokoto State on Christmas Day, which targeted the Lakurawa terrorist group, noting that the operation forced the militants to flee back into neighboring Niger Republic.
He also dismissed claims by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the persecution of Christians in Nigeria, stressing that the violence affects citizens of all faiths. “Nigerians are being killed. That is the bottom line,” Musa said. “Our focus is to stop the killings, whoever the perpetrators or victims are.”
The minister’s comments come amid a surge in mass abductions across Niger, Kebbi, and Kwara states at the end of 2025, underscoring the persistent challenge of cross-border criminality and the urgent need for more effective border security strategies.
0 Comments