Presidential spokesman Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Policy Communication, has said it is possible that individuals working for terrorist groups may have infiltrated Nigeria’s security agencies, including the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Police Force. He, however, stressed that such infiltration is not unique to Nigeria and noted that security agencies are actively working to identify and eliminate internal threats.
A senior aide to President Bola Tinubu has acknowledged the possibility that terrorist sympathisers may be operating from within Nigeria’s security institutions.
Speaking during an interview on The Link Up Podcast, Daniel Bwala said the country cannot completely rule out the presence of terrorist agents within the military, police and other security organisations, given previous cases where security personnel were arrested over alleged links to insurgent groups.
Bwala said infiltration of security institutions is a global challenge rather than one peculiar to Nigeria.
According to him, security agencies have in the past uncovered cases involving military personnel and police officers accused of collaborating with terrorists, demonstrating that such threats can emerge even within institutions responsible for protecting the country.
To explain his point, Bwala cited international security breaches, including the case of former U.S. intelligence contractor Edward Snowden, arguing that no country’s security architecture is completely immune from insider threats.
He added that while infiltration remains a concern, the government is implementing measures to strengthen internal intelligence and counter-intelligence operations, though he declined to discuss operational details publicly.
During the same interview, Bwala contrasted the current administration’s security coordination with previous years, alleging that rivalry between the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Air Force under the Buhari administration sometimes affected military operations.
According to him, such disagreements allegedly resulted in situations where troops did not receive expected air support during some operations. He claimed coordination among security agencies has improved under the Tinubu administration.
Nigeria continues to battle insurgency, terrorism, banditry and kidnapping across several regions, with security agencies regularly carrying out operations against armed groups.
Security analysts have long warned that insider collaboration remains one of the major risks confronting counter-terrorism efforts, making internal screening and intelligence gathering essential components of national security.
Bwala’s remarks have added to the ongoing national conversation about insecurity and institutional reforms. While he acknowledged the possibility of infiltration, he maintained that government agencies are aware of the threat and are taking steps to prevent terrorist networks from compromising Nigeria’s security architecture.