The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has said that using lethal force to rescue victims of the Oyo abduction could jeopardise their lives.
Bwala made the remarks during an interview on The Morayo Show on Friday.
NPO reported that suspected terrorists stormed communities in Oyo State on May 15, 2026, attacking Ahoro-Esinle Community High School, Yaota Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School.
The attackers abducted 46 people, comprising seven teachers and 39 students.
During the interview, Bwala said complaints relating to kidnapping incidents should first be directed to the affected local government area.
“In every state where a kidnapping takes place, the foundation for the complaint should start with the local government,” he said.
He maintained that the abducted victims are alive and that the government’s priority is to secure their safe release.
“We know they are alive and well. Getting them out of there alive is much more important than what anybody is saying in the news,” he said.
Bwala further argued that deploying lethal force could do more harm than good by putting the lives of the hostages at greater risk.
“If we use lethal force, we might end up jeopardising the lives of the people who have been kidnapped.
“When you have a case of what we call hostage-taking, the number one responsibility of the government is to rescue them and rescue them alive.
“But if we hear that one person has been killed, then we’ll have to use the other measures available,” he said.
Responding, the show’s host, Morayo, pointed out that one of the victims had already been beheaded. Bwala asked whether that should automatically prompt the government to launch a military offensive.
“Yes, that incident happened when one person was beheaded. Now I want to give you two scenarios.
“I want you to advise me: should the government now begin bombing everywhere in search of them because one person was beheaded, despite the possibility that the rest will be killed?” He said.