Factual Pursuit of Truth for Progress
The National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Monguno, has warned that disclosure of information on the activities and whereabouts of bandits would work against the security agencies in the ongoing operations against the criminals.
Monguno, who stated this during chat with State House correspondents after the National Security Council meeting in Abuja, stressed the importance of keeping intelligence gathered on the terrorists from the public.
The NSA was reacting to the remark credited to the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, on the activities of the terrorists.
El-Rufai had last month asked the military to bomb the bandits’ hideouts.
He claimed that the security agencies knew the camps and phone numbers of the bandits.
The governor said: “We know where their camps are. We know where they are. The SSS have their phone numbers. They listen to them, and they give me the report. We know what they are planning. We shouldn’t be waiting for them to attack. Why can’t we go after them?
“We are in a state of war. This place should be declared a war zone. The army, air force, and the police should go in there and kill them. Will there be innocent casualties? Yes! In every war situation, there are casualties.”
Monguno, however, said the Governor is talking too much, noting that disclosing the operations of the security operatives was harmful to the people they had kidnapped.
He said: “Governor Nasir El-Rufai spoke about the security agencies, saying we know who they are, where they are. Again, that is the danger. When you start talking too much, you give away a lot.
“Now, even if they say we know where they are, that in itself is already a problem. Because once you say it, whether it is true or false, the person who has your people in captivity will move to another location. It’s just as simple as that.
“So, sometimes, it is best to just keep silent; mum is the word.”