The National Security Adviser, Babagana Munguno, has accused Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai of revealing classified security information to bandits and other terrorists groups.
The security adviser was responding to a question on El-Rufai’s claim that the military failed to act despite intelligence reports made available to them early enough on the hideout of bandits and planned attacks.
Two days after the March 28 bomb attack on the Abuja – Kaduna train, El-Rufai who was speaking when Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, said he was frustrated and helpless, adding that the military knew the location of the bandits wreaking havoc in the state, but was refusing to bomb their hideouts.
The train attack left at least nine dead, over 20 hospitalised and nearly 100 abducted by the terrorists.
The governor said the location of the terrorists was public knowledge and even the Department of State Services usually monitors their telephone lines.
El-Rufai said, “We have enough intelligence for us to take action. The Air Force undertakes enough ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance); and the DSS has informants all over the place.
“We know what they (terrorists) are planning. We get the reports. The problem is for the agencies to take action. Don’t wait until they attack before you respond. The Army should go after their enclaves to wipe them out. Let the Air Force bomb them.”
The NSA, however, speaking on Thursday after the security council meeting with heads of security agencies and ministers, presided over by the President Muhammadu Buhari criticised El-Rufai for being a loudmouth, adding that he could indirectly help terrorists restrategise and in turn, endangered those in captivity.
Munguno said, “El Rufai’s comments could compromise the security situation as the bandits can relocate to other destinations if they know that their current hideout is known.
“Governor Nasir El-Rufai spoke about the security agencies saying we know who they are, where they are. Again, that is dangerous.
“When you start talking too much. You give away a lot. Now, even if they say we know where they are, that in itself is already a problem. Because once you say it, whether it is true or false, the person who has your people in captivity will move to another location.
“It’s just as simple as that. So sometimes it is best to just keep silent, mum is the word.”
