By Muhammad Mamman
Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has issued a stern warning to individuals he described as sympathisers of terrorists and bandits, saying that public empathy for criminal networks is fuelling insecurity and weakening the nation’s fight against terrorism.
Speaking during an official visit to Maiduguri, the epicentre of the country’s battle against insurgency, Musa directly addressed controversial narratives promoted by some clerics, including Sheikh Ahmed Gumi, who had referred to bandits operating in northern forests as “our brothers.”
“A friend of a thief is a thief,” Musa said, emphasising that no form of compassion should be used to justify or excuse criminality. He added that terrorism thrives not only on weapons but also on moral and rhetorical cover, warning that anyone who defends or shields criminals bears responsibility for the resulting consequences.
The Defence Minister stressed that Nigeria cannot defeat terrorism and banditry while narratives blur the distinction between victims and perpetrators. “The choice is clear,” he said. “Stand with the law and the nation, or be counted among those enabling criminality.”
Musa’s remarks reflect growing frustration within the government over ongoing attacks by bandits and insurgents, which have displaced thousands, destroyed communities, and claimed countless lives across Nigeria’s northern states.
By drawing a firm line between empathy and complicity, the Defence Minister called on citizens and opinion leaders alike to reject any justification for violence, underscoring that national security remains a collective responsibility.
