Ridiculous Claim on Rescue of 38 Kwara Worshippers

The Presidency last week shot itself in the foot when it claimed that security agencies made direct contacts with the 38 worshippers who were abducted in Eruku, Kwara State, without arresting the bandits.

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who appeared on ARISE NEWS Channel, claimed that security agencies have systems for tracking criminal networks in real time.

He also claimed that the operatives made direct contact with the kidnappers, demanding the release of the captives.

 According to him, the bandits complied, aware of the consequences of defying government directives.

Onanuga’s laughable claim has raised more questions than answers.

Is he saying that bandits take orders from security agencies? If bandits are afraid of the consequences of defying government’s directives as he claimed, why haven’t the security agencies ordered bandits to stop abducting and killing Nigerians?

Onanuga’s explanation was completely an embarrassment to the security agencies. This is what happens when one talks too much.

Reacting, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar described Onanuga’s claim as “a shameful attempt to whitewash a national tragedy and dress up government incompetence as heroism.”

Atiku added that “the release of abducted Nigerians is not a trophy moment; it is a damning reminder that terrorists now operate freely, negotiate openly, and dictate terms while this administration issues press statements to save face.

“If, as Onanuga claims, the DSS and the military could ‘track’ the kidnappers in real time and ‘made contact’ with them, then the question is simple: why were these criminals not arrested, neutralised, or dismantled on the spot? 

“Why is the government boasting about talking to terrorists instead of eliminating them? Why is kidnapping now reduced to a routine phone call between criminals and state officials? This irresponsible and reckless narrative exposes the truth,” Atiku added.

In a nutshell, Onanuga’s claim implies that security agents know these bandits, but cannot arrest them.

To avoid such future embarrassment, Onanuga should stop briefing Nigerians on such sensitive security issues and leave security briefings for the various arms of security agencies.

After all, security issues are not political issues where propaganda and falsehoods are deployed to score cheap points and destroy political enemies.