Presidency cites claims on CIA, arrest of foreign nationals as it raises alarm over foreign role in Nigeria’s insecurity
*Explains why identities, nationalities of arrested terrorists are kept secret by Nigerian authorities
By OUR REPORTER
According to him, U.S. Congressman Scott Perry had questioned a CIA official during a congressional hearing over allegations that the intelligence agency funded Boko Haram and the Islamic State.
The Presidency in Abuja has raised concerns that Nigeria’s prolonged security crisis may have been influenced by external actors, pointing to international allegations and recent security developments which, it said, suggest that foreign interests could be playing a role in the country’s challenges of terrorism and violent extremism.
Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communications, Mr. Daniel Bwala, made the remarks during an appearance on The Link Up Podcast, a panel discussion hosted by EchoRoom and published on July 17, 2026. He argued that Nigeria’s security challenges extend beyond domestic factors and may have involved foreign interests driven by strategic and economic considerations.
According to Bwala, the Federal Government has received intelligence pointing to the involvement of foreign nationals in insecurity across parts of the country, disclosing that Nigerian troops had arrested several foreign suspects during security operations.
He explained that the identities and nationalities of the arrested individuals had not been made public because of ongoing diplomatic engagements with the countries concerned.
“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,” Bwala said.
He added that in sensitive intelligence matters, governments often prefer quiet diplomatic engagement rather than public accusations.
“If you catch somebody like that, you keep them until that country has something also in it, so you do prisoner exchange,” he stated, noting that friendly nations are often encouraged to address such issues discreetly while intelligence operations around the world frequently rely on what he described as “plausible deniability.”
References to CIA Allegations
Addressing claims that the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) may have funded terrorist organisations operating in Nigeria, Bwala said he could neither confirm nor dismiss the allegation. However, he recalled that the issue had previously surfaced during a hearing of the United States Congress.
According to him, U.S. Congressman Scott Perry had questioned a CIA official during a congressional hearing over allegations that the intelligence agency funded Boko Haram and the Islamic State.
“I am not saying he is right or he is wrong, but an event like that has occurred, and as a country we cannot simply dismiss such conversations,” Bwala said.
He stressed that he was only referring to publicly available proceedings and was not making an independent allegation against the CIA.
Foreign Interests and Russian Flag Demonstrations
Bwala also suggested that certain political developments in Nigeria indicated that foreign interests might be exploiting domestic tensions.
He recalled demonstrations in parts of northern Nigeria during which some protesters waved Russian flags shortly after the Federal Government made a major policy decision, describing the development as one of several indicators that Nigeria’s security challenges may have international dimensions.
According to him, foreign governments often pursue their strategic and economic interests, including access to natural resources such as oil, through indirect means.
Terrorist Expansion Raises Fresh Concern
The presidential adviser warned that Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) had expanded their operational reach beyond the North-East into the North-West and were making inroads toward the North-Central region.
He said the Federal Government was intensifying efforts to contain the insurgency before it spread further into southern parts of the country.
Military Coordination Improved Under Tinubu, Presidency claims
Bwala also criticised what he described as operational disagreements between the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Air Force during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
According to him, disagreements between the leadership of both services reportedly affected counterterrorism operations, with requests for air support allegedly going unanswered during some military missions.
He, however, maintained that the situation had significantly improved under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, saying there was now greater coordination and cooperation among the armed forces.
“I remember during Buhari there was disagreement between the Chief of Air Staff and the Army leadership. Whenever operations required air cover, there would sometimes be no support. In this administration, that is no longer the case because there is coordination,” he said.
Infiltration of Security Agencies
Responding to allegations that terrorists may have infiltrated Nigeria’s security agencies, Bwala dismissed claims that the military deliberately protects insurgents, describing such assertions as speculative unless backed by concrete evidence.
Nevertheless, he acknowledged that isolated cases of infiltration or collaboration by individuals within the security services could not be ruled out.
He cited previous arrests involving police officers and soldiers allegedly linked to criminal activities, including the reported arrest of a senior police officer alongside Chinese nationals, to illustrate that no security institution is completely immune from compromise.
Drawing international comparisons, Bwala referenced former U.S. intelligence contractor Edward Snowden, arguing that infiltration and security breaches occur even in advanced democracies.
“These are things that can happen anywhere in the world,” he said, adding that the government was already implementing measures to address such vulnerabilities but would not disclose operational details.
Tinubu Has Earned Nigerians’ Trust – Bwala
Assessing the performance of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, Bwala said the government had made notable progress in improving national revenue, strengthening foreign reserves and enhancing coordination among security agencies.
He expressed confidence that the administration had done enough to merit public confidence, while noting that Nigerians would ultimately decide the President’s political future at the ballot box.
“He has done more than enough to earn the trust of Nigerians,” Bwala said.
The comments come amid renewed public debate over the root causes of Nigeria’s security challenges and continued efforts by the Federal Government to combat terrorism, banditry and other forms of violent crime across the country.
