The Presidency has cautioned Senator Ali Ndume against discussing sensitive security matters in public, urging him instead to pass such information directly to relevant authorities.
This follows recent comments by the Borno South lawmaker, who spoke on rising insecurity and alleged the presence of informants aiding terrorist groups within communities.
Responding on Tuesday, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said intelligence of that nature should not be shared on television.
According to him, such disclosures could undermine ongoing security operations if not properly handled.
Speaking in an interview with Vanguard, later confirmed to POLITICS NIGERIA on Wednesday, Onanuga stressed that any credible information should be taken straight to security agencies.
“If Senator Ndume has credible intelligence about terrorist informants or their mode of operation beyond what is already known to security agencies, the appropriate step is to share this with the Chief of Defence Staff, the National Security Adviser, or relevant intelligence bodies, not to discuss it on television,” Onanuga stated.
He explained that intelligence gathering and response depend heavily on confidentiality. Public discussions, he warned, may expose strategies or alert criminal elements.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that Ndume had earlier appeared on Channels Television, where he described how insurgents allegedly operate within local communities.
He claimed they rely on informants and use everyday means to carry out attacks.
“What they do is hit and run. They gather, share information among themselves, and most dangerously, they get information from some citizens, too. They have informants within society,” the senator had stated.
Ndume also expressed frustration with the current state of security, raising concerns about the welfare and preparedness of security personnel.
“The government, I must say, are not walking the talk. Security agencies and soldiers still do not have the training, equipment, ammunition, and motivation they need,” he said.
However, the Presidency disagreed with that position. Onanuga defended the administration’s efforts, saying significant investments have been made to strengthen the military.
He pointed out that President Bola Tinubu recently approved additional logistics and operational support for troops. This, he said, was done during a high-level security meeting held shortly before the recent attacks in Maiduguri.
“The President has demonstrated commitment by approving the highest budgetary allocation to defence in the 2026 Appropriation Bill, securing military equipment from France and the United Kingdom, and directing security chiefs to relocate to Maiduguri,” Onanuga stated.
He added that while political leaders are free to speak on national issues, there is a need for caution when such statements touch on security operations.
The exchange comes as military operations intensify in Borno State following the March 16 suicide bombings in Maiduguri, which left 23 people dead and over 100 injured.
President Tinubu had earlier ordered top security officials to move to the state to coordinate a stronger response. Troops under Operation Hadin Kai have since increased surveillance and counter-insurgency efforts across affected areas.
Ndume, whose constituency remains one of the worst hit by insurgency, has consistently called for stronger action. He has also questioned intelligence lapses, asking why terrorists who openly share content online cannot be easily tracked.
