Bandits fear air strikes, may be abducting children as human shields — Gana

Former Minister of Information, Jerry Gana, on Saturday has said that armed groups behind the latest wave of school kidnappings in the North may be seizing children as “human shields” following threats issued by United States President Donald Trump.

Gana spoke at a reception in Abuja held to celebrate the elevation of the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi, as chairman of the World Customs Organisation, and at a fundraising dinner for the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations’ national secretariat.

Gana, who had earlier paid tribute to Adeniyi’s WCO Council chairmanship, said that the sudden escalation in school abductions across the country may be linked to fears among bandits that they may soon be targeted by foreign powers.

He said, “It should become extremely worrying, especially for elders, statesmen, and fathers of the nation to see younger ones being abducted here and there
“Somebody phoned me just before I came here to say that it would appear that the bandits are taking the threat from the president of the United States seriously. Therefore, it would appear that they are now mobilising human shields to protect them.

“Therefore, those of you who are very close to security agencies here should tell them they (bandits) know that they are being targeted.”

He added that the geography of the attacks suggested the kidnappers were deliberately retreating into forest hideouts in anticipation of aerial strikes.

They fear that they are going to be targeted from the air and therefore felt the need to grab a few people to be human shields,” he said.

Gana urged the Nigerian government to deepen cooperation with international partners, adding,

“I think the Nigerian government will need all the wisdom to liaise with whoever can help us. Technology has gone to a point where you can be targeted from the air. And I think these people need to be targeted now from the air.”

However, The PUNCH could not independently verify the authenticity of Gana’s claim.

At the same event, Minister of Information Idris Mohammed disclosed that foreign news organisations were pressing him for updates on the abductions in Kebbi and Niger states, an indication of the growing global spotlight on Nigeria’s worsening security situation.

“As I was sitting down there, I got about two text messages from some international press organisations asking me to confirm the number of people who have actually been kidnapped in Agwara,” Idris said.

He added that government efforts were underway to secure the release of abducted students, stressing President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to ending the crisis.

My response to them is that while we are counting those who are kidnapped, I’m telling them that by God’s grace, we are already working for them to get released. And they will be released in God’s name very soon.

“This is the direction that the president has given. And I know that the security agencies are working hard to ensure that these children are reunited with their families,” he assured.

The minister urged Nigerians not to “report the country” internationally, insisting that economic indicators were improving and that mischaracterising insecurity as targeting only one region was “false”.

“We do acknowledge that we have challenges in this country. Let us come together to fight it, and I assure you that President Bola Tinubu was determined more than ever before to bring an end, finally, to this issue that we have,” Idris said.

Also speaking, Minister of State for Finance, Doris Uzoka-Anite, hailed the Customs CG’s global elevation as a boost to Nigeria’s influence in trade governance and a validation of ongoing reforms in revenue generation, digital transformation and transparency.

NIPR President, Dr Ike Neliaku, also described Adeniyi as a reluctant celebrant who “believes in working hard and performance,” saying his rise reflected resilience and professionalism.

Gana’s warning and the minister’s disclosures come amid rising international concern over deadly attacks and kidnappings in Northern Nigeria.

This week, US Congressman Riley Moore said violence targeting Christians was “escalating out of control,” adding, “I believe it is now a genocide.”

He warned that continued killings could trigger a response from Washington, stating that President Trump had made clear he would act if Abuja fails to halt the violence.

Moore met with a Nigerian delegation led by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu on Wednesday, where they discussed counterterrorism strategies and the protection of vulnerable communities.

The meeting followed a series of school abductions, including Monday’s attack at Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State, where at least 24 students were taken.

Kidnappings were also recorded in Niger State.

President Trump recently warned that Christianity faces “an existential threat” in Nigeria and that a US response could be “fast, vicious, and sweet” if attacks persist.