Community Resilience as the Key Solution to Curbing Kidnappings in Nigeria — Musa

General Christopher Musa (retd), the former Chief of Defence Staff, has emphasized that strengthening community resilience remains the most effective strategy for confronting the rising cases of kidnappings across Nigeria. He explained that empowering local communities is central to preventing the increasing threats posed by criminal groups, especially those responsible for mass abductions.

General Musa delivered this position on Wednesday during his ministerial screening at the Nigerian Senate, where he appeared following his nomination by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the role of Minister of Defence. While addressing the lawmakers, the retired military chief noted with deep concern the repeated incidents of school kidnappings and community-targeted attacks occurring in multiple regions of the country.

Responding to questions raised by senators regarding national security, General Musa described the surge in mass school abductions as heartbreaking and extremely troubling. He stressed that Nigeria must adopt a more comprehensive and unified security approach if the country intends to halt the persistent wave of criminal activities.

According to him, most criminal operations take place within communities, making it crucial to strengthen the structures, awareness, and cooperation at the local level. He explained that community resilience involves empowering residents with the right information, improving communication channels, fostering trust between citizens and security agencies, and enhancing the capacity of rural and urban communities to detect early threats before they escalate.

General Musa further highlighted that boosting community involvement makes it easier for security agencies to gather accurate intelligence, respond faster to emergencies, and weaken the networks used by kidnappers to operate undetected. He added that building resilience must involve collaboration between traditional leaders, youth groups, security formations, and local governments to create a coordinated, people-centered security system.

The retired defence chief also stressed that preventing kidnappings requires both a strategic national plan and strong grassroots participation. He pointed out that empowering communities not only reduces the vulnerability of schools and public areas but also helps security agencies adopt proactive rather than reactive solutions.