Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), has said Nigeria cannot win the fight against banditry, terrorism, and violent extremism through military operations alone, stressing that education remains one of the country’s most powerful tools for tackling insecurity and building lasting peace.
Musa made the remarks during the commissioning of the Kaduna Christian Academy, a faith-based school donated to the Kaduna Christian community by friends of the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi.
Speaking at the event, the Defence Minister said true national security goes beyond military hardware, intelligence gathering, and armed operations, noting that ignorance and hopelessness are among the major drivers of insecurity.
“When we speak of national defence, the instinct is to focus on boots on the ground, air power or intelligence gathering. However, true and lasting security is anchored on one critical element: the defeat of ignorance and the conquest of hopelessness. This school is a weapon of mass instruction in the right hands,” Musa said.
The minister warned that terrorists, bandits, and other criminal groups often rely on local collaborators for information, logistics, and support, making community participation crucial in the fight against insecurity.
According to him, security agencies cannot effectively combat criminality without timely and credible intelligence from citizens.
“If we keep quiet, they will continue to destroy us. But if we speak out, they will not have any space to survive,” he stated.
Musa described the newly commissioned academy as a strategic non-kinetic approach to security, arguing that investments in education create opportunities for young people, strengthen communities, and reduce vulnerability to extremist ideologies.
He added that an educated population serves as a stronger defence against criminality, radicalisation, and social instability than force alone.
The Defence Minister also praised the DSS for demonstrating that internal security is not only about surveillance and arrests but also about building trust, empowering communities, and investing in the future of young Nigerians.
He further commended President Bola Tinubu for efforts aimed at improving the education sector, saying access to quality education would help produce a more informed, productive, and resilient society.
Musa also applauded Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani for promoting inclusion, peaceful coexistence, and development, which he said have contributed to improved security in the state.
The minister urged residents of Southern Kaduna and other communities across the country to remain united and resist attempts by divisive forces to undermine peace and harmony.
The Kaduna Christian Academy becomes the second school donated by friends of the DSS Director-General within two years. In 2025, a similar Islamic school was built and handed over to a Muslim community in Danbushiya, Chikun Local Government Area, as part of efforts to promote education and interfaith harmony.
Echoing Musa’s remarks, stakeholders at the event, including religious leaders and government officials, stressed that education remains one of the most effective solutions to poverty, insecurity, and social division.
“Education remains one of the most powerful tools for personal, human capital and social development,” officials at the event noted, adding that every child given access to quality education strengthens the future of the nation.
The event was attended by Christian and Muslim leaders, community stakeholders, and government representatives, all of whom emphasised the role of education in fostering peace, unity, and national development.
Source: Ministry of Defence.
