Nigerian Military Can Swiftly Tackle Rebels In Benin Republic Than Terrorists Killing Citizens — Tinubu’s Spokesperson Justifies Failure To Protect Nigerians
Special Adviser to Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has justified Nigeria’s failure to resolve the long standing insecurity challenges battling the country, saying Nigerian military was quick to tackle unrest in Benin Republic but cannot do same to solve insecurity confronting Nigeria for years.
Speaking in a televised interview, Onanuga said bandits and terrorists hold innocent Nigerians as shield, stressing that fighting them is not the same way with fighting a conventional army.
He said most of the time, 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.
