Defence Minister says locals are helping bandits and terrorists survive

General Christopher Musa, our Defence Minister, finally said what many of us have been suspecting. He spoke at The Platform in Lagos and said banditry and terrorism persist partly because individuals within local communities are supporting these criminals. He called this support the "oxygen" that keeps them going, asking who is funding them, giving them information, and providing logistics. It is still the people, he said.

Now, I know some people will get angry and say the government is shifting blame. But think about it. If terrorists and bandits operate in areas where locals know them, how do they survive without someone feeding them or tipping them off? We have heard stories of villages where the same people complaining about insecurity are the ones sheltering these criminals. The military cannot be everywhere at once. Citizens need to cooperate and report suspicious activities.

This is not about excusing government failure. It is about facing the uncomfortable truth that insecurity is a community problem, not just a security agency problem. Am I the only one that thinks this way?