Nigeria’s Defence Minister, Christopher Musa, said on Friday that the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu deserved a “65 to 70 percent” score for its handling of security, citing a sharp reduction in terrorism despite a continuing wave of kidnappings and school abductions across the country.
“I’ll give ourselves 65 to 70,” Musa said in an interview with ARISE News marking three years of the administration.
“Yes. 65 to 70%. No nation is totally free from crime and criminality. I’m sure you are aware that the level of terrorism across the country has actually reduced drastically. Now we have acts of terrorism, and terrorism, like I said, is a social vice, a failure of family values,” he said.
Nigeria has battled a complex security crisis for years, including jihadist insurgencies in the northeast, armed banditry in the northwest and central regions, and rising kidnapping-for-ransom attacks targeting schools and rural communities.
Musa described kidnapping as a broader societal problem rather than solely a security failure.
“We have fathers kidnapping children, children kidnapping each other, brothers kidnapping sisters. It tells you that something is wrong with the family, and we need to look inward to see how we can address those issues,” he said.
His comments came amid renewed concern over mass abductions after at least 82 pupils were kidnapped between May 13 and 15 in separate attacks in Borno and Oyo states.
In northeastern Borno State, 42 pupils were abducted after armed groups attacked schools in Askira Uba and Chibok Local Government Areas on May 13 and 14.
In southwestern Oyo State, another 40 pupils were seized during coordinated attacks on Baptist Nursery and Primary School in Yawota, Community Grammar School, and L.A. Primary School in Esiele, both in Oriire Local Government Area.
Authorities said mathematics teacher Michael Oyedokun was beheaded during the Oyo attack, while a motorcyclist and a security operative were also killed.
The Defence Headquarters blamed the Oyo kidnapping on fighters from the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) faction displaced by military offensives elsewhere in the country.
Following the Borno attack, the state government temporarily shut down and relocated Government Day Secondary School, Mussa, in Askira/Uba Local Government Area.
Rights group Amnesty International said at least 1,100 people had been abducted in Nigeria between January and April 2026, describing the situation as evidence of continuing failures to protect vulnerable communities.
The latest incidents followed a series of mass kidnappings in recent months. In April, gunmen abducted 23 pupils and the wife of a school proprietor during an attack on an orphanage and school facility in Lokoja, Kogi State.
In November 2025, at least 145 people were kidnapped in four days across Kebbi, Niger, and Zamfara states, including 25 schoolgirls taken from a government secondary school in Kebbi after gunmen killed the vice principal.
Musa said many kidnappers were motivated by greed and a desire for quick wealth.
“People need to understand that to make money, you must work very hard. Don’t look for shortcuts. Most of those taking part in kidnappings and related crimes are looking for shortcuts,” he said.
The minister also pointed to recent military operations against jihadist groups as evidence of improved operational capacity.
“The recent killing of that deputy ISIS commander was a painstaking operation that began last year. We followed through, ensured we were certain of our target, and when we struck, we got them. That is what we are doing,” Musa said.
He said cooperation between civilians and the military had improved significantly.
“The level of support we’re getting is far better than it used to be, and we’re making more inroads. Nigerians are working with us, and I want to appreciate them,” he said.
Musa added that Nigeria was strengthening counter-terrorism cooperation with foreign allies, including the United States, Britain, France, Brazil, and Turkey.
“We are working with our partners, the Americans, the British, the French — all of them want Nigeria to succeed. They are bringing platforms we don’t have, and we are working together,” he said.
Warning against allowing insurgencies to become entrenched, Musa cited Turkey’s decades-long battle against militant violence as a lesson for Nigeria.
“Do not allow asymmetric warfare to commence. Do not allow acts of terrorism to take root. It is extremely difficult to reverse. Look at Turkey. It took them 40 years, and it is only now that they are getting over it,” he said.
“We are learning from them, partnering with them, developing our special forces, and gaining experience.
“We are also working with the French and the Brazilians. Everyone is putting their hands on deck to ensure we achieve success,” Musa added.
