Despite recording 314 terror attacks in his home state, Defense minister scores Tinubu 70% on security

Defence Minister Christopher Musa has rated the Tinubu administration’s security performance between 65 and 70 per cent, despite data showing Kaduna remains among the states hardest hit by terrorism and political violence.

General Christopher Musa (retd), Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, has rated the security performance of President Bola Tinubu’s administration at between 65 and 70 per cent, saying significant progress has been made in reducing insecurity across the country. Speaking during an interview on Arise Television while assessing Tinubu’s three years in office, Musa argued that no nation is completely free of crime and insisted that the level of terrorism had reduced considerably under the current administration.

Responding to a question on Nigeria’s security situation, Musa said, “Yes, I will give ourselves 65–70 per cent. Because no nation is Free. Yes, 65%, 75%, no nation totally free from crime and criminality. Yeah. I am sure you are sure that the level of terrorism across has drastically reduced. Now we have acts of terrorism.” However, data reviewed by FIJ from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED) paints a different picture for Kaduna State, Musa’s home state, which remains one of the most affected by terrorism and political violence in the country.

According to the data, Kaduna recorded 408 fatalities from terrorist attacks over the past year, ranking seventh among Nigeria’s 36 states, while 314 terrorist incidents placed it fifth nationwide. The state also recorded 309 political violence events and 418 related casualties. The violence has persisted under Tinubu’s administration, with notable incidents including the December 2023 military drone strike on Tudun Biri village and the March 2024 abduction of 137 pupils in Kuriga, one of the largest school kidnappings in recent years.

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