Why security agencies avoid bombing bandit hideouts — Presidential Aide

Why security agencies avoid bombing bandit hideouts — Presidential Aide

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has explained why Nigeria’s security agencies refrain from deploying airstrikes on known bandit hideouts, despite having reliable intelligence on their locations.

Speaking during an interview on Arise TV’s news programme on Monday, Onanuga said security operatives are often limited by the high risk of collateral damage, particularly to civilians being held by the armed groups.

“The security people know all the bandits operating in that axis. They know them. They know where they operate,” he said.

READ ALSO:

• PDP Leadership Crisis Deepens as Wike Loyalists Take Convention Dispute to Court
• Venezuela Rejects US Terrorist Designation of ‘Cartel de los Soles’ Amid Military Buildup
• Trump orders Muslim Brotherhood chapters in Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan designated as terrorist organisations

He stressed that many innocent Nigerians live around or are held within the areas controlled by the criminals, making indiscriminate airstrikes dangerous.

“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 bomb innocent Nigerians,” he noted.

Onanuga recalled a previous incident in Borno State, where the military mistakenly targeted civilians during an air operation due to faulty intelligence.

“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 added.

The remarks come amid renewed calls for tougher military action against banditry, which continues to pose significant security threats across several regions of Nigeria.

Why security agencies avoid bombing bandit hideouts — Presidential Aide