The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has explained why Nigerian security agencies, despite knowing the locations and identities of bandit groups responsible for recent kidnappings—including the attack on St Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State—cannot simply launch airstrikes on their enclaves.
Speaking on ARISE News’ Prime Time on Monday, Onanuga said the government has detailed intelligence on the bandits but faces constraints due to the risk of harming civilians held hostage.
“The security personnel know all the bandits operating in that area. They know their locations,” he said. “But our people live nearby. You cannot just bomb the camps; doing so could kill innocent Nigerians.”
He recalled a past mistake in Borno State, where the military misidentified targets and accidentally struck civilians, emphasizing the need to avoid repeating such errors.
Onanuga also highlighted difficulties in verifying the exact number of abducted students, citing incomplete records from the school and the Niger State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). He further noted that the school principal had “disappeared,” complicating the verification process.
“For the security forces, it is puzzling that the school is not cooperating fully. What is the agenda?” he asked.
The aide explained that bandits often use hostages as human shields, which restrains security forces from immediately storming their camps. “They understand that if they keep people and refuse to release them, the government could take kinetic action against their bases,” he added.
Onanuga also addressed President Tinubu’s directive to redeploy officers from VIP protection to frontline duties, noting that this measure would strengthen security in vulnerable areas. “Reports indicate about 100,000 policemen are guarding VIPs. If they are spread out to critical locations, it will make a significant difference,” he said.
Responding to criticism from church leaders, Onanuga affirmed that the government acknowledges the seriousness of the ongoing security challenges. “This administration knows Nigerians are being killed. We are aware of the problems, but we are making efforts to stop these attacks,” he stated.
He added that President Tinubu is expected to address the nation soon following ongoing consultations on security matters. “I think he will speak to Nigerians very shortly,” Onanuga said.
