Onanuga Explains Why Nigerian Military Struggles Against Bandits Compared to Benin Republic Rebels

Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has explained why the Nigerian military was able to swiftly contain unrest in Benin Republic but has struggled to address insecurity in Nigeria for years.

In an interview on ‘Prime Time’, aired on Arise Television and monitored by Patriotic Insights News on Monday, Onanuga said the difference lies in the nature of the adversaries.

He noted that bandits and terrorists in Nigeria often use innocent civilians as human shields, making direct military action extremely risky. “Fighting them is not the same as confronting a conventional army. Most of the time, they kidnap soft targets, and you have to exercise utmost care to avoid harming the people they are holding as collateral,” Onanuga said.

He contrasted this with the situation in Benin Republic, where insurgents targeted military installations. “Look at the case of Benin Republic. The attackers knew exactly where to strike. Unlike Nigerian bandits, they weren’t using civilians as shields. It’s a different kind of war altogether,” he added.

Onanuga further likened the challenge of combating banditry and terrorism in Nigeria to America’s struggle against insurgents in Afghanistan, describing it as akin to battling “guerrilla forces.”

Despite the challenges, he expressed optimism that the country is working toward solutions to end banditry and terrorism. “It’s not an easy war, but the country is poised to find a way to ensure that all this banditry and terrorism will end in a very short time,” he said.