By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has said that security agencies are fully aware of the identities and locations of bandit groups responsible for recent mass abductions, including the attack on St Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, in Niger State.
Onanuga made the disclosure on Monday during an interview on Arise News’s programme, Prime Time.
He explained that while security operatives have the necessary intelligence, their actions are often constrained by the risk of collateral damage to civilians being held by the bandits.
“The security people, they know all the bandits that are operating in that axis. They know them. They know where they operate,” he said.
The presidential aide emphasised that airstrikes cannot be indiscriminately carried out on the bandits’ hideouts.
“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 go and bomb innocent Nigerians,” he said.
Recalling a past incident in Borno State, Onanuga warned against repeating mistakes by security forces.
“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 said.
Onanuga also noted that the exact number of abducted students remains unclear, as neither the school nor the Niger State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria has provided complete records.
“As of now, the authorities are in the dark as to how many people are really missing. You said students are missing — let us have their names. Let us know what we are looking for,” he said.
He added that the school principal had “disappeared,” making verification even more difficult.
“For the security, they found it very strange that they are not cooperating. What is the agenda?” he asked.
Onanuga further explained why security forces do not immediately attack bandit camps after abductions.
“What sometimes restrains them from going after them is the risk of collateral damage. They go about abducting our people and use them as a shield so that they will not be attacked,” he said.
He added that the bandits are aware of the consequences of defying government pressure.
“They know that if they keep those people and refuse to release them, the next thing will be for the government to embark on a kinetic action and attack their base,” he said.
Onanuga also revealed that President Tinubu’s directive to redeploy officers from VIP protection to frontline duties would improve security in vulnerable areas.
“I read today about 100,000 policemen guarding VIPs. If you share them out to vulnerable areas, that will make a lot of difference,” he said.
Responding to criticism from church leaders, Onanuga said the administration fully recognises the gravity of the security situation.
“This government has never denied that Nigerians are being killed. We know we have problems, but we are making efforts to ensure that we stem all these things,” he said.
The presidential aide disclosed that President Tinubu is expected to address the nation soon following ongoing security consultations.
“I think he will do so very soon,” he said.