Presidency Urges Sharing of Terror-Related Information with Relevant Security Bodies in Response to Ndume

The Presidency has urged Senator Ali Ndume to direct any actionable intelligence on terrorism to the relevant security agencies, rather than publicly airing sweeping allegations on television, as advised by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Tuesday.

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Onanuga's advice was in response to Ndume's recent television appearance, where he alleged that terrorists have informants within the Nigerian society, and was shared in an interview with Vanguard, confirmed by PUNCH Online late Tuesday.

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If Senator Ndume possesses specific intelligence about terrorist operations, informants, or planned attacks, Onanuga stated that such information should be shared with the military and security agencies for operational action, rather than being discussed publicly.

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According to Onanuga, "If Senator Ndume has credible intelligence about terrorist informants or their mode of operation beyond what is already known to security agencies, the appropriate step is to share this with the Chief of Defence Staff, the National Security Adviser, or relevant intelligence bodies, not to discuss it on television."

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The presidential aide emphasized that actionable intelligence requires confidential handling through proper security channels to enable an effective response, highlighting the need for discretion in such matters.

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Senator Ndume had appeared on Channels Television, revealing that terrorists use commercial tricycles to deliver bombs and rely on informants within communities to plan attacks, stating "What they do is hit and run, they gather, share information among themselves, and most dangerously, they get information from some citizens, too."

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Ndume also criticized government efforts, saying "The government, I must say, are not walking the talk, security agencies and soldiers still do not have the training, equipment, ammunition, and motivation they need," in a scathing assessment of the current security situation.

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However, Onanuga defended the Tinubu administration's security investments, noting that President Bola Tinubu approved additional equipment and operational support during a security meeting held just before the Maiduguri bombings.

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The President has demonstrated commitment to security by approving the highest budgetary allocation to defence in the 2026 Appropriation Bill, securing military equipment from France and the United Kingdom, and directing security chiefs to relocate to Maiduguri, according to Onanuga.

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Onanuga added that public statements about security gaps, while legitimate as political commentary, become counterproductive when they contain specific operational intelligence that should be classified, highlighting the need for careful consideration in public discourse.

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The Presidency's response comes amid ongoing operations by troops of Operation Hadin Kai in Borno State, following the March 16 suicide bombings that killed 23 people and injured 108 others in Maiduguri.

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President Tinubu had directed security chiefs to relocate to Maiduguri to oversee operations and approved additional equipment to enhance counter-terrorism capabilities, in a bid to strengthen security in the region.

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Vice President Kashim Shettima visited victims at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital on March 18, assuring enhanced support for security forces, as part of the government's efforts to address the security challenges in the region.

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Senator Ndume, who represents Borno South, where much of the insurgency is concentrated, has been vocal about security challenges in the North-East, often calling for more aggressive military action and better equipment for troops, and has questioned intelligence failures in the past.

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Ndume had also questioned why terrorists who record their atrocities on TikTok cannot be tracked when ordinary citizens' phones are easily monitored, highlighting the perceived gaps in the country's security apparatus.