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PoliticsNigeria

Musa: Nigeria security 'a lot better than it used to be'

January 23, 2026

Armed groups in Nigeria have kidnapped 160 people. It's the latest in a series of mass abductions targeting Christians and Muslims. DW spoke with Nigerian Defense Minister Christopher Musa about the security situation.

https://p.dw.com/p/57JBv

Nigeria is under fresh scrutiny after police confirmed that more than 160 worshippers were kidnapped during Sunday church services in Kaduna state. The attack, carried out by armed groups known locally as "bandits," is the latest in a wave of mass abductions affecting both Christians and Muslims.

The incident comes just weeks after US President Donald Trump ordered airstrikes on militants in Nigeria, which observers say have done little to curb the violence.

DW spoke with Nigeria's Minister of Defense, General Christopher Musa, about the attack. On the security situation, he said, "I think it's improving by the day. It's a lot better than it used to be."

Pressed on what else is needed to fight the insurgency, he added: "Military work is doing so much, but it's just about 30% of the solution. Most 70% is the non-kinetic and that has to do with good governance, fairness, justice, equity, removal of hunger, poverty, illiteracy."