Why Nigerian Military Can’t Swiftly Tackle Bandits Like Rebels In Benin Republic – Onanuga

Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has stated reasons the Nigerian military was quick to tackle unrest in Benin Republic but cannot do same to solve the insecurity confronting Nigeria for years.

Onanuga was reacting to criticisms from Nigerians over the decision of the federal government to deploy military jets to Benin Republic to help foil a coup attempt, even as insecurity continues to plague communities across Nigeria.

Speaking in an interview on ‘Prime Time’, a programme on Arise Television monitored on Monday, Onanuga said bandits and terrorists hold innocent Nigerians as a shield, stressing that fighting them is not the same way with fighting a conventional army.

He said most of the time, the bandits and terrorists kidnap soft targets, adding that there should be utmost care not to bomb those they are holding as collateral.

“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.