Senator Garba Musa of Kebbi South on Wednesday sharply criticised Nigeria’s security agencies and the Federal Government’s approach to combating banditry, declaring on the Senate floor that authorities “know who the bandits are, where they are, and what they want” yet continue to conceal critical details and deploy ineffective measures.

His remarks followed the Senate’s announcement of the release of 24 schoolgirls abducted from Maga community in his constituency.

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‘I’m Happy and Sad at the Same Time’

Senator Musa said he was relieved that the girls were freed unharmed, but deeply troubled that the conditions surrounding their abduction and release remain largely unexplained.

“I’m very happy and sad at the same time,” he told lawmakers.
“Happy that the 24 girls from Maga in my constituency have been released safe and healthy; they were not molested.
But we must search our minds. We keep saying we know who these bandits are. We know where they are. We know what they want.”

He questioned why the government continues to apply what he described as half-measures while communities across northern Nigeria endure daily attacks from armed groups.

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‘What Are We Covering?’ — Senator Questions Secrecy Around Operations

The senator went further, challenging the logic behind the government’s opaque handling of kidnappings:

“If we are going to negotiate, let us negotiate and finish it.
If we are going to fight, let us fight it to a finish.
What is the big deal? We know everything. What are we covering?”

His comments intensified longstanding public concerns about whether powerful individuals or institutions may be shielding bandit networks.

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Presidency Responds: Rescue Was ‘Non-Kinetic’

In response to speculation surrounding recent rescue operations—including the release of kidnap victims in Kwara State—Presidential aide Bayo Onanuga clarified that the government used a non-kinetic strategy, meaning there was no direct military confrontation.

According to Onanuga:

• DSS operatives, the military, police, and intelligence agencies tracked the kidnappers in real time
• Authorities demanded the victims’ release
• The abductors complied “to avoid the consequences,” resulting in what the government called a “clean, life-preserving operation”

He stressed that direct assaults are often avoided because kidnappers frequently use civilians as human shields, making armed raids risky.

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Debate Intensifies Over ‘Negotiation’ With Bandits

Onanuga’s explanation has sparked renewed debate, with many Nigerians questioning whether “non-kinetic” approaches amount to back-channel negotiations or tacit compromise with armed groups.

Critics argue that the lack of transparency fuels suspicion and undermines trust in government security efforts—an issue Senator Musa’s outburst appears to echo.