Why Military Can’t Bomb Bandits Enclaves Despite Knowing Their Locations – Presidency Reveals

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, says security agencies are fully aware of the identities and operational bases of the bandits behind recent mass abductions, including the attack on St Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, in Niger State.

Onanuga made the revelations during an interview on ARISE News Prime Time, stressing that while the intelligence community has detailed knowledge of the criminal groups, operations are often hindered by the presence of civilians in the targeted areas.

The presidential aide insisted that the country’s armed forces are not lacking in intelligence.

According to him, “The security people, they know all the bandits that are operating in that axis. They know them. They know where they operate.”

He maintained that launching airstrikes on the identified enclaves could endanger the lives of innocent Nigerians living within or around the communities where the criminals operate.

‘You Can’t Just Bomb Them; Innocent People Are There’

Onanuga explained that the government must act cautiously to prevent civilian casualties, recalling a past error committed during anti-terror operations in Borno State.

He said, “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.”

Referencing the previous military mistake, he added: “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.”

Onanuga further revealed that authorities remain uncertain about the number of abducted children from St Mary’s School because neither the school nor the Niger State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has provided a verified list of missing persons.

“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 claimed that the school principal’s conduct had complicated the verification process.

According to him, “For the security, they found it very strange that they are not cooperating. What is the agenda?”

He added that the principal had allegedly “disappeared,” leaving investigators without crucial documentation.

A Wave of Mass Abductions in Niger State

Niger State has experienced repeated attacks by bandit groups in recent years, with schools often targeted for mass kidnappings.

The latest incident at St Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, follows a pattern seen in earlier assaults where armed groups storm rural communities, abduct students and residents, and retreat into forested hideouts.

The state government and security agencies have faced mounting public pressure to curb the escalating violence, especially as communities continue to report slow response times and delayed rescue efforts.

The Papiri attack has intensified scrutiny over existing security strategies, coordination lapses, and the government’s ability to protect schools in vulnerable regions.