Presidential Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has stated that Nigeria’s security agencies have identified the locations of major bandit groups across the North but are constrained by the presence of abducted civilians who are often used as human shields.
Speaking during a media interview on Monday, he noted that the government cannot authorize indiscriminate airstrikes without risking the lives of kidnapped victims.
Onanuga explained that intelligence reports on the attack at St. Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, in Niger State show that security forces are tracking the perpetrators but remain cautious due to the uncertainty surrounding the number of missing students.
He said the lack of an accurate list of abducted persons, worsened by the disappearance of the school principal, has complicated ongoing rescue operations.
The presidential aide highlighted ongoing reforms within the security architecture, including President Bola Tinubu’s directive to withdraw thousands of police officers from VIP security duties and redeploy them to high-risk areas.
He argued that reallocating manpower to frontline operations would significantly strengthen the country’s response to worsening insecurity.
Reacting to comments credited to former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, Onanuga faulted the opposition figure for appearing to welcome potential US military intervention in Nigeria.
He described the remarks made in response to a controversial social media post by former US President Donald Trump as reckless and dismissive of Nigeria’s sovereignty.
Government officials, including Foreign Ministry spokesperson Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa and presidential adviser Daniel Bwala, reiterated that Nigeria would only accept foreign support that respects its territorial integrity.
Meanwhile, President Tinubu is expected to address the nation after concluding consultations with security chiefs as schools across northern states continue to shut down amid persistent bandit attacks.
