Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has renewed his call for the construction of a border wall and the use of modern surveillance technology to prevent terrorists, bandits, and transnational criminals from entering the country.

Speaking in an interview with BBC Hausa, Musa highlighted the porosity of Nigeria’s borders as a major factor allowing armed groups to carry out attacks and retreat without detection. While acknowledging that walls cannot be built in all areas due to water bodies and difficult terrain, he emphasized that technology can monitor movements and provide real-time alerts to security forces.

Musa stressed that citizen cooperation is critical in the fight against insecurity. He urged the public to report suspicious activities, refrain from assisting criminals, and avoid providing information or supplies to armed groups, warning that any benefits derived from such activities amount to “blood money.”

The minister also assured Nigerians that President Bola Tinubu is providing enhanced support to the military, including equipment and resources to strengthen security operations. He highlighted the growing role of technology, allowing forces to respond to threats efficiently without deploying troops everywhere.

Musa further emphasized the importance of regional cooperation, noting that many criminals infiltrate Nigeria from neighboring countries like Niger, Chad, Cameroon, and Benin. He clarified that attacks in Nigeria affect all citizens regardless of faith, rejecting claims that Christians are exclusively targeted.

On recent military operations, Musa revealed that airstrikes in states such as Sokoto dealt a significant blow to bandit groups, forcing survivors to flee back to Niger Republic, their country of origin. He cautioned Nigerians against trusting armed outsiders who may initially appear friendly but eventually commit violence.

Concluding, the defence minister called for national unity and active collaboration with security agencies, stressing that no one loves Nigeria more than its citizens, and that joint effort is key to restoring peace and security.