The Presidency has said it cannot rule out the possibility that terrorist groups may have infiltrated Nigeria’s security agencies, including the Armed Forces and the Nigeria Police Force.
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‎The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, made the remark during The Link Up Podcast, a panel discussion hosted by EchoRoom and published on Friday. He was responding to a question on whether the military had been compromised by individuals working for terrorist organisations.
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‎Bwala explained that while the government has no reason to make sweeping allegations against the security forces, past incidents have shown that a few personnel have been arrested for allegedly aiding terrorist groups. He said such cases demonstrate that infiltration is possible and should not be ignored.
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‎According to him, no country is completely immune to security breaches involving insiders. He noted that intelligence agencies around the world have recorded similar incidents, citing former United States intelligence contractor Edward Snowden as an example of how individuals with access to sensitive information can compromise national security.
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‎The presidential aide stressed that the actions of a few individuals should not be used to judge the entire military or police, adding that the overwhelming majority of security personnel remain committed to protecting the country and combating terrorism.
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‎Bwala also disclosed that the Federal Government has put measures in place to detect and deal with anyone found to be collaborating with criminal or terrorist groups. However, he declined to provide further details, explaining that revealing the government’s strategy could undermine ongoing security operations.
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‎He maintained that tackling terrorism requires continuous vigilance and internal monitoring, noting that the authorities are taking necessary steps to strengthen the country’s security architecture while preventing further infiltration of the nation’s security institutions.Let me know if you’d like it written in a Daily Trust, Punch, or The Nation news style.