By Titilope Adako

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, has explained why the Nigerian military was able to quickly act during the recent unrest in Benin Republic but continues to face challenges tackling insecurity within Nigeria.

Speaking on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Monday, Onanuga said the difference lies in how bandits and terrorists operate.

Unlike conventional armies, these criminals often use innocent civilians as human shields, complicating military operations at home.

“Most of the time, criminals abduct soft targets, so security forces must be extremely careful not to harm those held captive,” he said.

He contrasted the situation with Benin Republic, where insurgents targeted a military base with clear coordination, allowing a swift military response. “It’s a different ball game internally.

The internal conflict is more like asymmetric warfare,” Onanuga added, noting that even powerful militaries, such as America’s in Afghanistan, struggled against guerrilla tactics.

Despite the challenges, he expressed confidence that Nigeria is “poised to find a way around it” and that banditry and terrorism will be addressed in the near future.

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