Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Christopher Gwabin Musa, has issued a strong warning to individuals and groups providing any form of support to bandits, declaring that such collaborators will be treated as terrorists.
Speaking after a visit to Uba Sani at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House in Kaduna, ahead of the Kaduna State Expanded Security Council Meeting, Musa outlined what he described as a new, uncompromising strategy in the fight against insecurity.
“Now, our new strategy: a friend of a thief is a thief,” he said. “Anybody who is doing any trading or providing any support to them, we will find you together and we will deal with you like bandits, like terrorists.”
The remarks signal a tougher stance by Nigerian authorities as the country continues to grapple with persistent attacks by armed groups, particularly in the northwest. Kaduna State has been one of the regions most affected by banditry, kidnappings and violent raids in recent years.
Security analysts say the latest declaration suggests an expansion of the government’s counterinsurgency approach to include not only armed actors but also their networks of enablers — including informants, financiers and suppliers.
Musa’s comments come amid increasing pressure on the federal government to curb insecurity and restore public confidence, especially in areas where communities have repeatedly faced attacks despite ongoing military operations.
While officials argue that cutting off logistical and financial support is key to weakening armed groups, rights advocates have cautioned that such measures must be implemented carefully to avoid wrongful targeting of civilians.
The Defence Ministry has not yet released further details on how the policy will be enforced, but the warning marks one of the clearest indications yet that authorities intend to broaden the scope of their crackdown.
