Bayo Onanuga, a senior aide to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has described individuals responsible for vandalising public infrastructure as the “worst species of citizens” and called for extreme measures to deter them, including orders that they be “shot on sight.”
In his comments,to a post made by X user Salawu on the vandalism carried out on the Ibadan -Ilesa expressway,the aide strongly condemned attacks on public facilities, saying such acts threaten national development and undermine government efforts. He stated, “Those criminals are the worst species of citizens in this country today… If we see them, let them be shot on sight.” He argued that harsher deterrent measures were necessary to protect public investments and maintain law and order.
The aide also urged security agencies to intensify patrols and work collaboratively with local communities to safeguard critical infrastructure. “We cannot fold our arms while people destroy what belongs to all of us,” he said, emphasising that the protection of public assets is essential for economic and social stability.
Civil liberties advocates have raised concerns about the rhetoric, saying that calls to “shoot on sight” risk violating constitutional rights and due process. Some lawmakers and legal experts have urged the presidency to clarify or temper the statement to ensure that punitive measures remain within the boundaries of the law and respect fundamental human rights.