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By Akinwande Soji-Ojo
National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Monguno, has said intelligence operations of security agencies against bandits are not for public consumption.
Monguno stated this on Thursday while addressing journalists after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari and service chiefs at the presidential villa.
He was responding to questions on a recent comment made by Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai.
While speaking about the train attack in the state in March, the Kaduna governor had asked the military to bomb bandits’ hideouts, instead of waiting for them to attack.
El-Rufai had said the camps and phone numbers of the bandits are known by the security agencies
Reacting, Monguno said the governor’s disclosure on the activities of security operatives is dangerous for kidnap victims.
“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,” the NSA said.