Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has explained why the Nigerian military cannot apply the same tactics used in quelling unrest in Benin Republic to tackle banditry and terrorism at home.
Onanuga, who appeared on Arise Television’s ‘Prime Time’ programme monitored on Monday, said the security situation in Nigeria is far more complex because criminal groups often embed themselves among civilians.
He stressed that bandits frequently use abducted victims as human shields, making it difficult for troops to deploy heavy force without risking the lives of innocent Nigerians.
“I think it’s a different ball game altogether. The internal one is more of a symmetric war. I think our military people have been saying that, but people don’t seem to understand what it was talking about.
“Look at the case of Benin Republic now. They wanted to bomb a military base in Benin. They know where to where to go. They coordinated where they should actually bomb, which is what they did.
“Unlike those people the bandits and terrorists are holding up as shield. They are always kidnapping soft targets and so on. You have to be very careful not to go and bomb those they are holding as collaterals.
“These are like a gorilla. Even the almighty America couldn’t find gorillas in Afghanistan as well. It’s not easy.
“It’s not an easy war, 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,” he said.
Onanuga maintained that the unconventional nature of insurgency requires caution and precision, adding that Nigeria’s armed forces must avoid actions that could lead to mass casualty among kidnap victims.
He, however, expressed optimism that ongoing military operations and new strategies will help the country overcome banditry and terrorism sooner than many expect.