- Presidency Confirms Arrest Of Foreign Nationals Linked To Insecurity In Nigeria
- Daniel Bwala says identities were withheld over ongoing diplomatic engagements.
- Government says efforts continue to contain Boko Haram and ISWAP expansion.
The Presidency has confirmed that Nigerian security forces have arrested foreign nationals allegedly linked to insecurity in parts of the country but withheld their identities to protect ongoing diplomatic engagements.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communications, Daniel Bwala, disclosed this while speaking on The Link Up Podcast, a panel discussion hosted by EchoRoom.
According to Bwala, the identities and nationalities of the suspects were not made public because of sensitive diplomatic considerations involving their home countries.
He said issues relating to foreign interference in Nigeria’s internal affairs are closely connected to national security and economic interests, including the country’s oil resources and past policy decisions of the Federal Government.
Referring to demonstrations that took place in parts of northern Nigeria, including Kano, Bwala suggested there were indications of foreign involvement.
“If you remember, there was a decision the Federal Government of Nigeria made at that time, and immediately we started seeing people in Nigeria lifting Russian flags,” he said.
Bwala added that Nigerian troops had arrested foreign nationals during security operations in the country.
“Our soldiers have arrested foreign nationals in the middle of the country. For security reasons, the military refused to disclose their nationality, but the government of Nigeria related with those nationalities and countries.
“If you catch somebody like that, you keep them until that country has something also in it, so you do prisoner exchange.”
Speaking on the activities of Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), Bwala said the terrorist groups had expanded their operations beyond the North East into the North West and were gradually pushing towards the North Central region.
He, however, said the Federal Government was working to contain the security threats before they spread to southern parts of the country.
Bwala also defended the performance of the Tinubu administration, pointing to what he described as improvements in Nigeria’s foreign reserves and government revenue.
He added that Nigerians would ultimately decide whether President Bola Tinubu deserves a second term based on the administration’s overall performance.
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