Tinubu Aide Defends Government Silence On Kidnap Rescue Operations
Rising public frustration over the federal government’s silence on school kidnapping rescue operations has drawn a direct response from the presidency, with a top aide defending what critics have described as a communication blackout around abductions that have claimed lives and left families in anguish across the country.
Dada Olusegun, Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Social Media, addressed the controversy on Monday through his official X handle, arguing that broadcasting rescue plans publicly would hand dangerous intelligence to the very armed groups responsible for the abductions.
“The kidnappers are on social media with us and follow the trends to get updates. You cannot possibly expect the government to update rescue plans on social media if you really have the interest of those kids at heart, and it is not just for performative purposes. Concerned, we must. Reckless, we mustn’t,” he stated.
His remarks came as criticism mounted online following renewed school abductions, with many Nigerians accusing the government of leaving families without credible assurance that rescue efforts were underway. Olusegun acknowledged public anger but maintained that operational secrecy remained the responsible approach when lives were at stake.
“I understand your anger, but a large bulk of it should be reserved for the cowardly terrorists who use kids as human shields. These kids have to be rescued alive. It serves no purpose for our armed forces to charge in headfirst and hope for the best. They are kids, fgs!” he added.
On the question of sanctions for those circulating false information about security incidents, Olusegun was measured, saying his responsibility was limited to countering misinformation. “It is not my job to arrest or publicly state with authority that anyone will be arrested for sharing false information. Everyone does their part. Mine is to debunk, yours is to amplify, while the law enforcement will do theirs,” he said.
The exchanges unfolded against a backdrop of growing insecurity in several states. Among the most recent incidents was the abduction of pupils and teachers in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, where armed attackers also killed a teacher during a raid on a school.
In a direct policy response, President Tinubu approved the immediate recruitment of 1,000 forest guards specifically for Oyo State, intended to improve surveillance across forest corridors that security analysts say have become operational routes for bandits and kidnappers.
National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu confirmed that the recruitment process would commence in July 2026, with personnel to be sourced locally and deployed to strengthen counter-bandit operations in vulnerable forest communities.
Nigeria has faced recurring cycles of school abductions since the mass kidnapping of Chibok schoolgirls by Boko Haram in April 2014, an event that drew global attention and remains unresolved for dozens of families over a decade later. Successive administrations have struggled to translate security policy into durable protection for school-age children in high-risk areas.