Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) has moved to quash public confusion surrounding the recent arrest of armed individuals in Kwara State, clarifying that those detained were not criminals or bandits but vigilante operatives officially recognised by the Federal Government as part of a hybrid security strategy. The clarification comes amid heightened public concern after a rifle and other weapons were recovered from the suspects, triggering speculation about illicit arms distribution and government complicity.
In a statement issued by the Head of Strategic Communications at the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) under the NSA, Mr. Abu Michael, the Office explained that the individuals were part of auxiliary security personnel engaged in counter-terrorism and anti-banditry operations in challenging terrains. The approach, the spokesman said, involves the coordinated deployment of regular security forces alongside trained irregular auxiliaries such as hunters and vigilantes to augment federal operations in forested or otherwise difficult-to-police areas — a tactic modelled after the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) concept previously used in the North-East against Boko Haram.
Officials emphasised that the weapons recovered, including rifles, were issued legitimately by authorised security and intelligence agencies to the operatives for use within the scope of sanctioned operations. The NSA’s office stressed that all auxiliary personnel involved in hybrid deployments have been recruited “directly by authorised security and intelligence agencies following due diligence,” and that their activities are conducted under established legal frameworks and standard operating procedures.
The clarification sought to dispel narratives suggesting the Federal Government was arming socio-cultural or non-state groups indiscriminately. According to the NSA’s office, such claims are false and misleading, and officials urged media outlets to verify security information through designated official channels to avoid compromising ongoing operations or endangering personnel.
The hybrid deployment strategy, the statement noted, is part of Nigeria’s National Counter Terrorism Strategy (NACTEST) and is intended to enhance operational reach and effectiveness in areas where conventional forces alone may face logistical or tactical limitations. By combining regular military or police units with vetted auxiliary forces, authorities believe they can better disrupt criminal and extremist networks, particularly in forested zones where bandits and terrorists often operate.
The NSA Office also reaffirmed that no arms have been given to socio-cultural organisations as part of these operations, a point made to counter claims circulating online and on social platforms that the government was arming civilian groups outside official oversight. All hybrid operations involving vigilantes, hunters or other auxiliaries, the statement explained, are conducted within the law and under the supervision of security agencies coordinating the broader counter-terrorism response.
Public reaction to the clarification has been mixed, with some commentators welcoming the explanation as a necessary correction of earlier reports, while others raised questions about transparency, oversight and the deployment of auxiliary forces from outside local communities. The NSA appealed for restraint in reporting and urged Nigerians to exercise patience as security agencies carry out sensitive operations aimed at restoring safety in vulnerable regions.
The Kwara incident underscores ongoing complexities in how hybrid security arrangements are communicated and perceived, especially when auxiliary forces are armed and operating away from their home regions. As federal authorities and state governments continue to navigate escalating insecurity in parts of the country, the need for clear public information and robust legal frameworks governing auxiliary deployments remains a central topic of concern and debate.
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