The Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, has defended the Federal Government’s approach to communicating kidnapping incidents, insisting that operational secrecy is necessary to protect victims and security personnel.
Olusegun made the remarks on Monday amid growing criticism on social media over the government’s handling of recent school abductions and concerns about the lack of public updates on rescue efforts.
Responding through his X account, the presidential aide argued that kidnappers closely monitor social media platforms and could use publicly available information to frustrate rescue operations.
According to him, security agencies must be allowed to carry out their duties without disclosing sensitive details that could compromise ongoing missions.
“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,” Olusegun said.
“Concerned, we must. Reckless, we mustn’t,” he added.
The presidential aide stressed that the government’s primary objective remains the safe return of abducted victims.
He acknowledged the frustration and anger expressed by members of the public but urged Nigerians to direct their outrage toward the perpetrators of the crimes rather than security agencies carrying out rescue efforts.
“I understand your anger, but a large bulk of it should be reserved for the cowardly terrorists who use kids as human shields,” he stated.
“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, for goodness’ sake,” he added.
Olusegun also addressed concerns about the spread of false information regarding security incidents.
Responding to a social media user who questioned whether individuals spreading misinformation would face sanctions, he clarified that his role is limited to correcting false claims and providing accurate information.
“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 comments come amid heightened public concern over recurring school kidnappings in parts of Nigeria and increasing calls for improved communication from government officials regarding rescue efforts.
In response to recent attacks, President Bola Tinubu approved the immediate recruitment of 1,000 forest guards in Oyo State to strengthen security in forest corridors often used by armed groups.
The decision followed the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area, where armed attackers reportedly killed a teacher during the raid.
National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, said the recruitment process would commence in July 2026. He explained that personnel would be recruited locally and deployed to enhance surveillance, intelligence gathering and counter-bandit operations across vulnerable areas.
Security officials hope the initiative will help curb the activities of criminal groups and improve protection for communities located near forested regions.
