Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, has explained why the Nigerian military was able to respond quickly to unrest in Benin Republic but has faced challenges addressing longstanding insecurity within Nigeria.

In an interview on Prime Time, a programme on Arise Television, Onanuga said the situation in Nigeria involves bandits and terrorists who use innocent civilians as human shields, making it very different from confronting a conventional army.

He noted that bandits often target soft targets, and extreme caution is required to avoid harming those held hostage.

“I think it’s a different ball game altogether. The internal conflict is more of an asymmetric war. Our military has been saying this, but many people don’t seem to understand,” Onanuga said.

He added, “Take the case of Benin Republic. They targeted a military base, clearly knowing where to strike, and executed it. But here, bandits and terrorists take hostages. You have to be very careful not to hit those they are holding as collateral.

“These actors operate like guerrillas. Even the United States struggled to locate guerrillas in Afghanistan. It’s not an easy war.

“Nonetheless, I believe the country is committed to finding a solution, and all forms of banditry and terrorism will be brought to an end in a short time,” he concluded.