Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Opposition political parties have launched a blistering attack on the administration of President Bola Tinubu over the Presidency's admission that terrorist groups may have infiltrated Nigeria's security architecture, describing the disclosure as further evidence of the Federal Government's failure to tackle the country's worsening insecurity. The parties – including the Social Democratic Party, African Democratic Congress, Young Progressives Party, Peoples Democratic Party and the National Democratic Coalition – said the revelation by the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, underscored the need for urgent reforms, thorough investigations and the prosecution of any security personnel found collaborating with terrorists.
Bwala, speaking on The Link Up Podcast hosted by EchoRoom, acknowledged that terrorist groups may have infiltrated Nigeria's security agencies, saying the possibility cannot be ruled out despite ongoing efforts to tackle insecurity. He stated that the government believed "they may have one or two agents in the army, anywhere else," pointing to established precedent within both the Army and the Police as evidence that such breaches were not theoretical. "Our police have always been arrested, and soldiers arrested involved in this kind of thing," he said. However, the Presidential aide argued that no security architecture in the world was entirely immune to infiltration, citing the case of Edward Snowden as an example. He said the Federal Government had put measures in place to address the infiltration threat but deliberately withheld the details for security reasons.
The Presidency's warning came amid unverified social media reports alleging that a soldier serving as a weapons instructor with an Army battalion in Geidam, Yobe State, had gone missing for about two days before being sighted among Boko Haram fighters during an attack on the town. According to these unverified accounts, the soldier's commanding officer tracked his phone to Gashua, several hundred kilometres from his duty post, prompting troops in the area to search for him. The reports further claim he was intercepted at a checkpoint while attempting to travel to Gombe in disguise, and that he detonated an explosive device while being transported back to Geidam, after allegedly overpowering an escort. The claims have not been independently verified.
Opposition parties, in separate exclusive interviews with The PUNCH on Sunday, following Bwala's comments, criticised the administration, describing the disclosure as troubling and evidence of governance failure. The National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress, Bolaji Abdullahi, questioned why the government had yet to prosecute anyone if it had credible evidence of terrorist infiltration. "This is a serious allegation. But Bwala is an unserious individual. So, it is difficult to take seriously anything he says. But if there is any credence to the allegation, shouldn't we be hearing of arrests and prosecution instead of allegations?" he said. He added, "Three years in power, the APC people still imagine themselves to be in opposition rather than a government with power and responsibility to run a government".
Rufus Aiyenigba, National Publicity Secretary of the Social Democratic Party, said the admission highlighted what he described as the government's inability to fulfil its most fundamental constitutional responsibility. "The first line of defence for the nation is the Office of the President. If the President is admitting to gaps from within, then we have a grave situation on our hands," he said. Aiyenigba argued that Nigeria faced not only the threat of terrorism but also what he called a crisis of governance, accusing the administration of failing to guarantee citizens' security while weakening democratic opposition. The National Democratic Coalition echoed the criticism, with its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, describing Bwala's comments as evidence of the ruling All Progressives Congress' inability to confront insecurity. He argued that successive security challenges since the APC assumed office in 2015 demonstrated a lack of strategic direction and called on voters to remove the party from office in the 2027 general election.
The Peoples Democratic Party also demanded a comprehensive investigation into any alleged infiltration of government institutions by terrorist groups. The Nigeria Police Force, responding to the development, said it has six internal oversight bodies monitoring personnel conduct and that discreet investigations are ongoing to weed out bad elements. Defence Media Operations declined to comment on the matter when contacted. Security analysts say the Presidency's comments have heightened public concern at a time when the country continues to battle insurgency, banditry and kidnapping across several states. Opposition leaders are now demanding urgent reforms, independent investigations, and prosecution of any security personnel found culpable of aiding terrorist groups.
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