By Our Correspondent
Opposition parties have berated the Tinubu administration over the Presidency’s admission that terrorist groups may have infiltrated Nigeria’s security architecture, describing it as evidence of governance failure and a threat to national security.
The criticism followed comments by the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, on _The Link Up Podcast_. Bwala said government believes “they may have one or two agents in the army, anywhere else,” citing past arrests of soldiers and police officers linked to terrorism.
Bwala said measures were already in place to address the issue but declined to give details for security reasons. He added that no security system in the world is immune to infiltration, referencing the Edward Snowden case in the United States as an example.
The disclosure comes amid unverified social media reports that a soldier serving as a weapons instructor in Geidam, Yobe State, allegedly disappeared and was later sighted with Boko Haram fighters. Authorities have not confirmed the report.
In separate reactions, opposition parties including the SDP, ADC, YPP, a faction of the PDP and the NDC described the Presidency’s admission as troubling. The SDP said it shows a failure of the President in his role as Commander-in-Chief, while the NDC accused the APC of being “clueless since 2015.”
The PDP faction said the government has failed in its primary constitutional duty of protecting lives and property. The ADC questioned why no arrests have been made if evidence of infiltration exists, while the YPP said the statement only confirms long-held fears of compromised personnel within security agencies.
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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