Only God can end insecurity in Nigeria – Matawalle drops bombshell

Minister of State for Defence, Bello Muhammad Matawalle, has called for greater collaboration between Nigerians and security agencies in tackling the country’s persistent insecurity, stressing that the challenge requires collective action, prayers and sustained military operations.

Speaking in an interview with BBC Hausa, Matawalle described insecurity as a national concern that transcends political, religious and ethnic divides, warning against attempts to politicise the issue for partisan advantage.

His remarks come amid renewed security concerns following a series of attacks and abductions in parts of the country, including incidents in Oyo and Borno states involving schools and students.

According to the minister, insecurity affects all Nigerians regardless of political affiliation, and should not be exploited to score political points against the government.

“It is disheartening, and we must all rise to ensure that security agencies and Nigerians work together to end insecurity in the country. Insecurity does not discriminate based on political affiliation or religion. It can affect anyone,” he said.

Matawalle urged opposition politicians to refrain from using security challenges to incite the public, arguing that such actions undermine collective efforts aimed at restoring peace and stability.

He maintained that while government remains committed to confronting criminal elements, ending insecurity requires the support of citizens through intelligence sharing, cooperation and prayers.

“It is only God that can bring an end to this insecurity, alongside our collective prayers and efforts. It should not be used as a tool to condemn others or score political points,” he stated.

The minister also raised concerns over the circulation of what he described as misleading and recycled videos on social media, alleging that some old footage from previous administrations and neighbouring countries were being falsely presented as recent incidents in Nigeria.

According to him, such content creates a distorted impression of the country’s security situation and unfairly portrays the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as ineffective.

“There are fake and recycled videos being circulated, some dating back to previous administrations and others from countries such as Burkina Faso and Mali, yet they are being presented as incidents that occurred under this administration. That is not true,” he said.

Matawalle, however, assured Nigerians that security forces remain actively engaged in operations across the country and are working relentlessly to dismantle terrorist and criminal networks.

He noted that security challenges are not unique to Nigeria, pointing out that even some of the world’s most advanced nations continue to grapple with terrorism and violent extremism.

The minister appealed to citizens to continue supporting security agencies and to remain hopeful as government intensifies efforts to restore peace across affected communities.

“Our security operatives are working tirelessly across the country. We have directed them to deal decisively with terrorists, but this is not a challenge that can disappear overnight,” he added.