Why We Haven’t Struck Bandits Despite Knowing Their Hideouts – Defence Minister

Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, has revealed that the Armed Forces are aware of the locations of major bandit hideouts across the country but are delaying direct operations to avoid civilian casualties and ensure a decisive outcome.

In an interview with the BBC Hausa Service monitored in Kaduna, Badaru said the recent rise in school abductions does not indicate that security agencies are losing ground, describing the attacks as part of typical guerrilla tactics where criminals strike intermittently to spread fear. “There will be periods of calm, and then they launch an attack that shakes the nation. Yes, we know their locations, but some of these areas are places where direct strikes could endanger civilians, or forests where our bombs cannot penetrate,” he explained.

The Defence Minister emphasized that troops are working tirelessly to dismantle the criminal networks responsible for violence, noting that significant progress is being made despite occasional setbacks. He expressed particular concern over the return of mass school abductions and confirmed that the government has ordered a thorough investigation into recent incidents.

Badaru pointed out that earlier frameworks for school security had successfully reduced kidnapping cases over the past two years and stressed that lessons are being learned from the renewed attacks to prevent future occurrences. He also confirmed an inquiry into reports that security personnel were withdrawn prior to an attack on a girls’ school in Maga, Kebbi State, pledging that anyone found culpable would face sanctions.

Acknowledging the challenge of bandit groups extorting rural communities, Badaru said military operations in such areas are carried out with extreme caution to minimize harm to civilians, reinforcing the government’s commitment to a measured but effective response.