Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, has declared a firm stance against negotiating with terrorists or paying ransoms, warning that such actions only empower criminal groups and prolong insecurity.

During his ministerial screening at the Senate, Musa explained that ransom payments allow terrorists to regroup, re-arm, and launch further attacks. He cited instances where communities that had previously negotiated with criminals still suffered subsequent attacks. He also highlighted that Nigeria’s banking system is capable of tracking suspicious financial flows if the proper tools are fully utilized.

Emphasising that military action alone cannot end insecurity, Musa noted that kinetic operations account for only 25–30 percent of overall efforts. He identified poverty, illiteracy, weak governance, and ineffective local government structures as drivers of criminal networks. He urged state and local authorities to take responsibility for intelligence gathering and early intervention, stressing that security agencies cannot bear the burden alone.

Musa also raised concerns about Nigeria’s slow judicial process, particularly in terrorism and kidnapping cases that often drag on for years. He recommended urgent legal reforms, including the establishment of special courts for terrorism, stricter penalties, and accelerated hearings to strengthen national security.

The Defence Minister warned of rising criminal activity along maritime corridors linking Akwa Ibom to Cameroon, including sea robbery, piracy, and coastal kidnappings. He confirmed that Operation Delta Safe is being expanded to areas previously considered calm but now showing signs of infiltration.

Musa called for a total ban on illegal mining, describing it as a significant source of funding for armed groups operating in forest regions. He also announced plans to reduce routine military checkpoints nationwide, freeing more troops for field operations in forests and ungoverned spaces. Restoring safe access to farmlands, he said, remains a top priority, noting that food security is essential to national stability.

“A hungry man is an angry man. Protecting farmers means protecting the nation,” Musa stated.

On military recruitment, Musa revealed that more than 70,000 Nigerians apply each year, but many resist deployment to conflict zones. He stressed that a unified national database would help verify identities, prevent recruitment fraud, and improve the tracking of criminals across states.

He described Nigeria’s fragmented data systems as a serious obstacle, pointing out that separate databases held by immigration, quarantine, and other agencies create loopholes exploited by terrorists, kidnappers, cybercriminals, and illegal miners. He urged the creation of a single national database to streamline tracking, disable crime-linked bank accounts, and boost inter-agency intelligence.

Following a special three-day debate, the House of Representatives adopted extensive national security reform resolutions. Members called for open and transparent prosecution of all terrorism-related cases, stating that such measures would reduce violent crime and restore public trust.