Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Christopher Musa has pointed to the erosion of family values as among the social ills worsening insecurity in Nigeria. The remarks come amid rising fears over crime, banditry, and youth radicalization in various regions of the country.
Speaking at a national security forum, General Musa said that destabilized households, absent parental guidance, and weakened moral discipline are making many young people vulnerable to criminal recruiters and extremist influence.
He emphasized that while economic hardship and governance failures are often cited causes, the collapse of core family structures is an equally worrying trend feeding into the insecurity crisis.
The CDS reaffirmed that insecurity has grown beyond armed conflict to include more insidious threats rooted in societal breakdown.
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He encouraged government, religious, and community leaders to reinvigorate family mentoring, moral education, and value-centered upbringing in schools and homes, as part of broader efforts to stem insecurity.
While General Musa acknowledged that poverty, hunger, and border insecurity play major roles, he stressed that no strategy for improving national security can succeed without addressing social and ethical foundations at home.
