Former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, has disagreed with recent remarks by former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai, over the ability of security agencies to track terrorists and bandits.
Buratai had questioned why security agencies could easily locate ordinary citizens and social media influencers but allegedly struggle to trace bandits and terrorists who often publicise their activities online.
Responding to the comments, Omokri argued that the former army chief failed to take into account the complexity of tracking terrorist networks and non-state actors, even in countries with advanced military and intelligence capabilities.
Drawing a comparison with the United States, Omokri noted that the late Al-Qaeda leader, Osama Bin Laden, remained on the run for years despite being one of the world’s most wanted terrorists. He pointed out that the U.S. declared Bin Laden wanted after the 1998 bombings of its embassies in Kenya and Tanzania but only succeeded in locating and killing him in 2011.
According to Omokri, the Bin Laden case demonstrates that finding terrorist leaders is often far more difficult than many people assume, regardless of the sophistication of available technology and intelligence resources.
He further maintained that Nigerian security agencies have recorded notable successes in the fight against terrorism and banditry, despite the country’s persistent security challenges.
As examples, Omokri cited the recent arrest of suspected TikTok bandit Sule Yellow and the death sentences handed to four individuals convicted for their roles in the 2022 Owo Catholic Church attack.
He said these developments indicate that security agencies are making measurable progress in combating criminal elements across the country.
Omokri also urged Buratai to exercise caution in his public comments, stressing that statements made by former top security officials should inspire confidence in the nation’s security institutions rather than undermine public trust.
He maintained that while insecurity remains a major concern, criticism of security agencies should be balanced and reflect the realities and complexities involved in tracking and dismantling terrorist networks.
