The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, has explained why Nigeria’s military cannot confront bandits and terrorists in the same swift and direct manner it recently used in responding to an attack in neighbouring Benin Republic.
Speaking on Monday during an interview on Prime Time, a programme on Arise Television, Onanuga said the nature of Nigeria’s internal security challenge makes it difficult for the armed forces to launch quick and decisive attacks. According to him, bandits and terrorist groups inside Nigeria often hide among innocent people, using them as shields, and this limits the type of force the military can apply.
Onanuga explained that the groups causing insecurity in Nigeria are not like traditional armies that gather in one place or operate from identifiable bases. Instead, he described them as “guerrilla” fighters who move around quickly and avoid direct contact with soldiers.
“I think it’s a different ball game altogether,” he said. “The internal one is more of an asymmetric war. Our military people have been saying that, but people don’t seem to understand what they are talking about.”
Asymmetric warfare refers to conflict where one side uses unconventional tactics, often because it is weaker than the other. Such groups avoid open confrontation and prefer ambushes, kidnappings, and attacks on vulnerable communities.
One major reason the Nigerian military cannot strike bandit camps freely, Onanuga said, is that the criminals almost always hold civilians as hostages. These victims—many of them students, farmers, travellers, or villagers—are used as human shields.
“Unlike the people in Benin Republic,” he said, “the bandits and terrorists are holding people as shields. They are always kidnapping soft targets… You have to be very careful not to go and bomb those they are holding as collateral.”
In recent years, bandits in states like Zamfara, Kaduna, Katsina, Niger, and Sokoto have kidnapped thousands of people. Many victims are kept in forests for weeks or months while their families struggle to pay ransom. Because these hostages are hidden within the bandits’ camps, military operations such as airstrikes become extremely risky.
Onanuga compared Nigeria’s situation with the case in Benin Republic, where the Nigerian military reportedly helped counter an attack targeting a military base. According to him, the situation there was clearer and easier to handle because the rebels involved were part of a more structured threat.
“They wanted to bomb a military base in Benin. They know where to go. They coordinated where they should actually bomb, which is what they did,” he said.
In that case, the military could identify the attackers and their location, and respond with force without worrying about harming innocent civilians.
Nigeria has faced worsening insecurity for over a decade. The Boko Haram insurgency, which began in 2009 in the North-East, has evolved into various factions, including the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). Despite significant military efforts, these groups continue to carry out attacks on villages, military posts, and civilians.
In addition to Boko Haram, bandit groups have risen in the North-West and North-Central regions. These groups, often heavily armed, raid villages, rustle cattle, kidnap people for ransom, and engage in clashes with security forces. The spread of these groups across forests and ungoverned spaces makes it difficult for the military to carry out conventional operations.
Insurgency and banditry have also had severe economic impacts—forcing farmers to abandon their land, increasing food prices, and weakening local economies. Millions of Nigerians have been displaced, and many communities remain unsafe for residents to return home.
Onanuga also highlighted that even powerful nations sometimes struggle against guerrilla-style enemies. He referenced the United States’ experience fighting insurgents in Afghanistan.
“These are like a guerrilla force,” he said. “Even the almighty America couldn’t find guerrillas in Afghanistan. It’s not easy.”
For many Nigerians, this comparison helps explain why a country with a strong military still faces persistent security threats.
Despite these challenges, Onanuga said the government remains determined to defeat banditry and terrorism. He noted that the military and security agencies are working to adapt to the nature of the conflict and develop new strategies.
“It’s not an easy war,” he admitted. “But I think the country is poised to find a way around it to make sure that all this banditry and terrorism will end in a very short time.”
President Tinubu’s administration has repeatedly said that improving national security is one of its top priorities. Since taking office, the government has ordered new military operations, increased funding for security agencies, and strengthened cooperation with neighbouring countries.
However, many Nigerians continue to express frustration over the unending attacks and kidnappings, especially in rural areas. Communities in parts of Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara, Plateau, Niger, and Benue still face frequent assaults from armed groups.
There are ongoing discussions about the need for state policing, improved border control, better equipment for security forces, and stronger local vigilance groups.
Additionally, analysts stress the importance of addressing root causes such as poverty, unemployment, weak governance, and lack of basic services in rural areas—factors that make communities vulnerable to attacks and recruitment by criminal groups.
Onanuga’s comments highlight a reality many Nigerians already understand: the fight against insecurity is complicated and cannot be compared to a straightforward military battle. With bandits and terrorists mixing with civilian populations, avoiding civilian casualties remains a top concern for the government.
While many citizens continue to demand faster and more visible results, the government says it is working to balance effective action with caution, so innocent lives are not lost in the process.
