Veteran journalist Bayo Onanuga offers critical insights into the complex challenges including collateral damage fears and operational constraints preventing Nigerian security forces from launching full-scale attacks against bandit groups .
In Nigeria’s protracted battle against escalating banditry which has ravaged communities across the North-West and parts of the North-Central the perceived slow or cautious response of the security agencies has frequently drawn public scrutiny and criticism Offering a crucial perspective on this complex security dilemma veteran journalist and former Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria NAN Bayo Onanuga has shed light on the primary constraints that prevent security operatives from launching immediate decisive and full-scale attacks on known bandit enclaves .
The core of Onanuga’s argument revolves around the intricate operational and ethical challenges inherent in confronting non-state actors who often embed themselves within civilian populations or use them as shields These groups unlike conventional armies do not operate from fixed identifiable military bases making direct offensive operations fraught with risk .
The Collateral Damage Conundrum
The most significant constraint according to Onanuga is the high risk of collateral damage Bandit groups particularly those engaging in mass kidnappings often hold numerous victims in captivity within their forest hideouts These victims include women children and elderly people whose safety becomes the paramount concern for any ethical military or security operation .
Also Read : Idrissa Gueye Statement on Teammate Slap Analyzing the Incident After Evertons Man Utd Victory
A direct heavy-handed attack such as an airstrike or a major ground offensive carries the almost certain risk of inadvertently killing or injuring the hostages For security agencies the primary goal shifts from mere elimination of the criminals to the safe recovery of the kidnapped victims This operational necessity mandates a cautious intelligence-driven and often prolonged approach involving negotiation surveillance and precision strikes only when the separation of victims from their captors is assured The fear of causing mass civilian casualties which would fuel public outrage and inadvertently turn citizens against the state’s forces severely restricts the kind of force that can be deployed .
Operational and Logistical Challenges
Beyond the ethical constraints Onanuga highlights several operational and logistical hurdles that limit the security forces’ immediate capability to attack .
1 Terrain and Logistics Bandit camps are often situated deep within dense forests and remote difficult-to-access terrains These areas lack infrastructure making the rapid deployment of heavy armoured vehicles artillery and sufficient troop numbers challenging The logistics of sustaining a prolonged offensive operation in such a hostile environment are considerable requiring reliable supply lines for food fuel and ammunition .
2 Intelligence Deficiency While some bandit locations may be known precise real-time intelligence on the movement strength and critically the location of hostages within these vast forests is often scarce Acting on stale or inaccurate intelligence can lead to failed missions and unnecessary loss of life both for civilians and security personnel Effective counter-banditry operations depend heavily on reliable human intelligence HUMINT and signals intelligence SIGINT which takes time to gather and verify .
3 Manpower and Resource Allocation Nigeria’s security forces particularly the Army and Police are already stretched thin fighting insurgencies in the North-East Boko HaramISWAP communal clashes and pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta The need to maintain internal security across all 36 states means resources including trained personnel and specialized equipment must be continually allocated across multiple fronts This finite resource pool impacts the ability to launch and sustain overwhelming force against bandit groups simultaneously across the North-West .
The Strategy of Attrition and Containment
Onanuga’s explanation implicitly suggests that the current strategy despite public impatience is one of attrition and containment rather than immediate annihilation This strategy often involves continuous aerial surveillance targeted ground operations based on actionable intelligence and cutting off the bandits supply lines fuel food and communication .
The objective is to degrade the bandits capacity to operate make their hideouts untenable and apply sufficient pressure to facilitate the safe release of hostages often through non-kinetic means supported by security presence While politically unpopular due to its slow pace this measured approach is often viewed by security experts as a necessary evil to minimize civilian casualties and prevent the situation from deteriorating further into a full-blown humanitarian crisis .
In conclusion Onanuga provides a crucial clarification the apparent reluctance of security operatives to launch immediate and overwhelming attacks is not a sign of incompetence or unwillingness but rather a reflection of the profound ethical and operational dilemmas imposed by the bandits tactic of using civilians as human shields The immediate imperative remains the protection and safe recovery of Nigerian citizens held in captivity a task that often dictates caution over confrontation .
Disclaimer
Disclaimer The news information presented here is based on available reports and reliable sources specifically the insights shared by Bayo Onanuga regarding security constraints in Nigeria Readers should cross-check updates and official positions from recognized governmental or security news outlets .