Group Praises Defence Minister On Fight Against Insecurity

A group, Communal Responsibility and Civic Minded Foundation, has declared support for the minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa, over his statement on the current situation of insecurity in Southern Kaduna.

Its executive director, Comrade Godwin Erheriene, said Musa had the right as a former military officer and now a minister of defence to unravel the real reasons behind the security situation in Kaduna State.
At a press conference, Erheriene said the group was against any attempt to intimidate the minister by any means a.

He said, “We address you today to reaffirm our unwavering support for the minister of Defence, Gen.Christopher Gwabin Musa, and to reject any attempt to intimidate, silence or distract him from speaking on matters relating to national security, peace, unity and the welfare of Nigerians.

“Our position is not based on personal sentiment. It is rooted in the conviction that public officials, particularly those entrusted with the security of our nation, must be able to speak openly about the security challenges Nigeria has faced and the lessons that must be learnt from them.”

According to him, the comments by the Minister on 3 September 2026, during a live interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, about the security and socio-political realities experienced by communities in Southern Kaduna, which had led to threats against the Minister showed the situation of insecurity in that part of Kaduna State.

“We believe that the appropriate response to such serious public statements should not be intimidation or an attempt to suppress discussion, but an open, evidence-based engagement with the issues raised.

“General Christopher Musa is not an outsider to the events and security challenges he discussed. He is a proud son of Southern Kaduna and a highly decorated Nigerian military officer who devoted approximately 35 years of active service to the defence of Nigeria.

“His military career took him through the Nigeria Military School, Zaria, and the Nigerian Defence Academy, after which he served the nation in various capacities and rose through the ranks to become a General of the Nigerian Army.

“He has witnessed first-hand the devastating consequences of insecurity, communal violence, terrorism and the breakdown of trust between communities.

“It is therefore neither surprising nor unreasonable for him, in his capacity as Minister of Defence and as a citizen with personal ties to the affected communities, to reflect on the experiences of the past and speak about their impact on national security and social cohesion.

“At the heart of the current controversy are comments attributed to the Minister concerning the former Kaduna State administration, including references to insecurity, alleged payments to bandits, the demolition of properties and the use of ethnic or religious divisions in the political environment of the state.

“What Nigeria does not need is intimidation, inflammatory rhetoric or the weaponisation of political differences.”

Meanwhile, the group urged the media to continue to provide space for responsible and balanced discussion of the issues raised, and civil society organisations to insist on accountability, transparency and respect for fundamental rights. The group also admonished the political class to avoid language capable of further dividing Nigerians along ethnic, religious or regional lines.

“The security of Nigeria is too important to be reduced to political point-scoring. General Christopher Musa has dedicated a significant part of his life to the service and defence of Nigeria. As Minister of Defence, he carries an enormous responsibility at a particularly challenging time in our national history.

“He must be allowed to discharge that responsibility without intimidation, fear or favour because of the sensitivity of his office which protects the territorial integrity of this nation”, he said.

Meanwhile, the group expressed concerns about the protracted insecurity plaguing Southern Kaduna following the years of violence, displacement, destruction, and memories experienced by the victims, hence they deserve truth, justice, reconciliation and lasting security instead of politicizing the issues.

“We therefore welcome every genuine effort aimed at rebuilding trust among Kaduna’s diverse communities, regardless of which political administration initiated such efforts.

“Our concern is not about protecting one political party or attacking another. It is about ensuring that the experiences of communities affected by insecurity are not erased from public discourse.

“Nigeria must never reach a point where discussing the painful history of violence becomes unacceptable simply because prominent political figures are involved.”

Meanwhile, the group counseled that, “Where wrongdoing is alleged, let there be investigation and prosecution and let the Judiciary endeavor to avert this bottleneck process that will always hamstring the justice system.

“And where citizens believe they have been defamed, let the law provide the appropriate remedy.

“But let nobody use political influence or legal threats to prevent Nigerians from discussing matters of legitimate public interest.

“We stand with General Christopher Musa in his constitutional responsibility to contribute to the national conversation on security, unity and the protection of Nigerian lives.

“We also stand for fairness, due process, responsible journalism and the rule of law.

“The painful experiences of communities across Nigeria must never be forgotten. Rather, they should serve as lessons from which we build a more united, peaceful and secure nation.

“The time for politics of division must give way to politics of reconciliation, accountability and national unity.

“We therefore urge all parties to lower the temperature, allow the facts to speak for themselves and place the unity and security of Nigeria above personal and political differences.”