The Presidency has revealed that security agencies have identified the bandit groups responsible for a string of recent mass abductions, including the attack on St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State. However, authorities say operations are being carefully calibrated to avoid harming civilian hostages.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, gave the assurance on Monday during an appearance on ARISE News’ Prime Time programme.
His remarks came amid fresh reports of another hostage-taking in Isapa, Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State—just a day after 38 church worshippers abducted in nearby Eruku were freed.
Panic spread through Isapa community on Monday evening when armed terrorists invaded the town, abducting a pregnant woman, 10 children, two nursing mothers and others.
Isapa is a short distance from Eruku, where terrorists struck a Christ Apostolic Church congregation over last week, abducting over 38 worshippers and killing three.
The media is reporting that the Isapa attack occurred around 6 p.m. on November 24, 2025, when 20–30 armed bandits stormed the area, firing sporadically while moving with a large herd of cattle. An elderly woman was injured by a stray bullet.
A community leader confirmed that 11 people were taken, including seven members of the same family. The abducted victims include:
Talatu Kabiru
Magaji
Kande
Hadiza
Mariam
Saima
Habibat (housewife)
Fatima Yusufu (housewife)
Sarah Sunday (pregnant woman)
Lami Fidelis (nursing mother)
Haja Na Allah
Residents said the gunmen moved through the town firing heavily, leaving multiple bullet holes in walls and doors. Spent AK-47 shells were later recovered across the community.
Meanwhile, Onanuga said security agencies possess intelligence on the bandits’ locations but cannot launch unrestricted operations due to the presence of civilians in the camps.
“The security people know all the bandits operating in that axis. They know them. They know where they operate,” he said, adding that airstrikes or large-scale assaults could endanger hostages.
He referenced a past military error in Borno State where civilians were mistakenly bombed due to incorrect satellite coordinates. “They must avoid that kind of mistake,” he warned.
Onanuga also disclosed that authorities still lack precise information on the number of students abducted in the Niger State school attack. Neither the school management nor the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria has provided a full register of missing pupils.
“As of now, the authorities are in the dark as to how many people are really missing. You said students are missing—let us have their names,” he said.
He further alleged that the school principal had “disappeared,” complicating efforts to verify the exact number of abductees.
According to him, bandits often shield themselves with abducted civilians, making rapid military response risky. “What sometimes restrains them is the risk of collateral damage,” he said.
Commenting on President Tinubu’s directive to redeploy officers from VIP protection to frontline duty, Onanuga said the move would significantly improve security across vulnerable areas. “I read today about 100,000 policemen guarding VIPs. If you share them out to vulnerable areas, that will make a lot of difference,” he stated.
Responding to criticisms from religious leaders, Onanuga maintained that the administration fully recognises the gravity of the security situation.
“This government has never denied that Nigerians are being killed. We know we have problems, but we are making efforts to ensure that we stem all these things,” he said.
He added that President Tinubu is expected to address the nation soon following a series of ongoing security consultations.
“I think he will do so very soon,” he said.
