The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, says security agencies know the exact hideouts of bandit groups terrorising the North but are often unable to launch direct airstrikes due to the high risk of killing abducted civilians.
Onanuga stated this on Monday during an interview on ARISE TV’s Prime Time, where he defended the Federal Government’s handling of the worsening insecurity and condemned comments attributed to Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, over alleged support for possible United States military action in Nigeria.
According to him, the military has intelligence on the identities and operational bases of bandits responsible for abductions including the attack on St Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, Niger State, but operations are slowed by concerns for the safety of victims used as human shields.
“The security people know all the bandits operating in that axis. They know them, they know their locations,” he said.
“But you cannot just bomb their enclaves because we also have our people there. We made mistakes in the past in Borno when civilians were hit.”
Onanuga added that authorities were still struggling to verify the number of abducted persons, saying the disappearance of the school principal had further complicated rescue operations.
The presidential aide disclosed that the Federal Government is reviewing the deployment of police personnel, noting that an estimated 100,000 officers guarding VIPs could be reassigned to vulnerable communities to strengthen security.
He assured that President Tinubu is receiving continuous updates from service chiefs and would soon address the nation on the rising security challenges.
Onanuga also took a swipe at Obi over a resurfaced video in which the former Anambra governor was quoted as saying he would “welcome” possible US intervention if former President Donald Trump orders military action in Nigeria.
“If Donald Trump said he will invade Nigeria, I will welcome it with open arms because security is my priority,” Obi allegedly said in the viral clip.
Onanuga described the statement as reckless and a threat to Nigeria’s sovereignty, insisting the government would not tolerate such remarks from any political figure.
The controversy followed Trump’s recent comments alleging “Christian genocide” in Nigeria and claims that the Pentagon should prepare for possible action—claims Nigeria has dismissed as false.
Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, stressed that attacks in Nigeria affect citizens of all faiths and that the government rejects any narrative portraying the country as a genocide zone.
President Tinubu, during a security briefing in Abuja, also highlighted his appointment of a Christian as Chief of Defence Staff and ongoing engagement with religious leaders to foster unity.
Presidential adviser Daniel Bwala added that Nigeria would welcome foreign assistance only within the bounds of its territorial integrity.
Despite Obi’s repeated calls for diplomatic cooperation with the US on security matters, Onanuga said his recent comments risk undermining government authority at a time when banditry has shut down schools and displaced thousands across northern states.
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