The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Muhammad Matawalle, has said that given Nigeria’s current security challenges, only divine intervention, alongside collective efforts, can ultimately bring an end to insecurity in the country.
Nigeria has continued to grapple with recurring cases of violence, killings, and kidnappings in several regions, leading to the displacement of residents from their communities, Minister of State for Defence, Bello Muhammad Matawalle, has said
In recent incidents, gunmen attacked three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, abducting 39 students and seven teachers. In a separate attack in Borno State, armed men reportedly invaded schools in Mussa, Askira-Uba Local Government Area, and abducted 42 pupils.
Speaking in an interview with BBC Hausa, Matawalle said insecurity remains a national problem that requires the cooperation of both security agencies and citizens to overcome.
He called on Nigerians to support government efforts, back security agencies, and continue to pray for peace, while warning politicians against exploiting insecurity for political advantage.
According to him, the situation is unfortunate and requires all stakeholders to work together to strengthen security operations across the country.
“Insecurity does not discriminate based on political affiliation or religion. It can affect anyone,” he said.
The minister also urged opposition figures to refrain from using insecurity to incite public sentiment, insisting that the crisis affects all Nigerians and should not be politicised.
He accused some opposition members of appearing to benefit politically from the situation by portraying the government as ineffective, rather than focusing on solutions.
Matawalle added that misleading and outdated videos are being circulated on social media to suggest government failure, stressing that security agencies are actively working to combat terrorism and criminality nationwide.
He maintained that “it is only God that can bring an end to this insecurity, alongside our collective prayers and efforts,” noting that the issue should not be used for political point-scoring or blame games.
BACKSTORY…
The comments come amid renewed concerns over Nigeria’s worsening security situation, with repeated incidents of mass abductions and attacks on schools and rural communities in different parts of the country.
In recent weeks, there have been reports of coordinated kidnappings in some northern and southwestern states, including attacks on schools in Oyo and Borno States, where dozens of students and teachers were abducted by armed groups. These incidents have further intensified public debate on the effectiveness of ongoing security operations.
The federal government has continued to insist that security agencies are making efforts to contain the situation, while also calling for greater cooperation from citizens and local communities in intelligence sharing and support for security operations.
It is against this backdrop of rising insecurity and public anxiety that the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Muhammad Matawalle, made his remarks, stressing the need for collective responsibility and national unity in addressing the crisis, while also emphasising faith and prayer as part of the broader response to the country’s security challenges.
