Nigeria’s ongoing struggle with mass abductions resurfaced yesterday after fresh comments from the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, offered new insight into the constraints facing security forces battling bandit groups.
Speaking on a television programme, Onanuga disclosed that security agencies have detailed intelligence on the identities and operational areas of the bandits behind recent school kidnappings, including the attack on St Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State. He explained that the challenge is not a lack of information but the danger of harming civilians used as shields.
“The security people, they know all the bandits that are operating in that axis. They know them. They know where they operate,” he said.
According to him, launching airstrikes on these locations is not a straightforward option because of the communities living around the hideouts. “Our people are living around where they operate. So you can’t just go there. They need to be very careful that in the course of chasing these bandits, they don’t go and bomb innocent Nigerians,” he added.
His remarks revived memories of a tragic episode in Borno State where a misdirected military strike killed civilians during operations against insurgents. “Some years ago in Borno State, when the military thought they had the right satellite connection, they bombed the wrong people. They must avoid that kind of mistake,” he said.
Struggle to Confirm the Number of Missing Students
Onanuga noted that authorities are still uncertain about the exact number of students abducted from the Niger school. He attributed this to the absence of a proper inventory from the school and the lack of detailed documentation from the state’s Christian Association of Nigeria. “As of now, the authorities are in the dark as to how many people are really missing. You said students are missing — let us have their names. Let us know what we are looking for,” he said.
He also claimed the school principal had not cooperated with investigators. “For the security, they found it very strange that they are not cooperating. What is the agenda?” he asked.
Why Security Forces Don’t Immediately Raid Camps
The presidential aide explained that the bandits deliberately keep abductees close to their bases, making rescue operations delicate. “What sometimes restrains them from going after them is the risk of collateral damage. They go about abducting our people and use them as a shield so that they will not be attacked,” he said.
He insisted that the criminals are aware of the consequences of ignoring pressure from authorities. “They know that if they keep those people and refuse to release them, the next thing will be for the government to embark on a kinetic action and attack their base,” he noted.
Redeployment of Police From VIP Guard Duties
Onanuga also commented on the recent directive to reduce the number of police officers assigned to VIP protection. He said the redeployment would boost security presence in communities vulnerable to attacks. “I read today about 100,000 policemen guarding VIPs. If you share them out to vulnerable areas, that will make a lot of difference,” he said.
Government Acknowledges Security Concerns
Addressing criticisms from religious leaders, he maintained that the administration recognises the severity of the situation. “This government has never denied that Nigerians are being killed. We know we have problems, but we are making efforts to ensure that we stem all these things,” he said.
Onanuga hinted that President Bola Tinubu may address the nation soon after ongoing security consultations. “I think he will do so very soon,” he said.
