Presidential aide Bayo Onanuga says many Nigerians ignored a police warning on night travel. He spoke on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme while discussing kidnappings and attacks. Onanuga noted that many incidents happen late at night. However, he also admitted that serious security breaches are happening.
According to Onanuga, he often checks the time when he reads about a kidnapping or an attack. Some happen at 8pm, 9pm or even 1am, he said. His reaction is surprise, since the police told people long ago to stop travelling at night. Even so, he said, many ignored that police warning.
Onanuga’s remarks at a glance
| Speaker | Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy |
| Platform | Arise Television, Prime Time |
| Main point | Many Nigerians did not follow police advice to stop night travel |
| Times he cited | 8pm, 9pm and 1am |
| What he admits | Major security breaches are happening |
| Wider claim | Nigeria is not under siege |
Onanuga also said Nigeria is not under siege. He said incidents are limited to certain places. To make the point, he said he travelled by road from Lagos to Oyo for a burial. He also said a senior government official told him he drove by road from Abuja. Asked whether one could drive from Borno through Yobe and Adamawa, he replied that some people do it.
Not every attack involves night travellers, though. In November 2025, gunmen abducted schoolgirls in Kebbi State and attacked worshippers at a church in Eruku, Kwara State. At that time, Onanuga himself spoke of security breaches when he announced that the President had postponed foreign trips.
Sojworldnews did not find a police response to his remarks in the reports reviewed. We will update this story if the police reply.
The interview was first reported in June 2026. This article presents Onanuga’s remarks as he made them.
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