Onanuga: Security Agencies Know Bandits But Civilian Risk Dey Slow Strikes

Presidential Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, don talk say Nigeria security agencies sabi di bandits wey dey behind recent mass abductions, including di attack on St Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, Niger State. According to am, security people know di identities and locations of di criminals, but dem no fit just bomb di hideouts because civilians dey live around dia camps. Onanuga remind Nigerians of one past mistake for Borno State where military bomb wrong people because dem think say satellite coordinates correct. He add say confusion still dey about how many students dem abduct because di school and Niger State CAN never provide full list, and even di school principal don “disappear,” wey make verification hard.

Onanuga also talk say security forces dey careful because bandits dey use abducted victims as shield, and dem no wan cause collateral damage while pursuing dem. He add say di bandits sabi say if dem hold victims too long, government fit launch strong kinetic action against dia base. On top of that, he defend President Tinubu plan to redeploy officers from VIP protection to frontline duty, saying di move go boost security for vulnerable communities, especially as reports show say nearly 100,000 policemen dey guard VIPs. Responding to church leaders wey dey criticize government, Onanuga insist say di administration know di seriousness of di killings and dey work to tackle di crisis. He conclude say President Tinubu go address Nigerians soon after security consultations.