By Adeola Kunle
The Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), has explained how Nigerian security forces have been able to free kidnapped victims in some operations without killing or arresting the terrorists responsible for their abduction.
Musa said the military’s approach in such situations often involves locating the terrorists, sealing off their escape routes and cutting access to essential supplies such as food, water and fuel.
According to him, terrorists frequently abandon their captives and flee when they realise that security forces have closed in on their positions.
The minister gave the explanation on Thursday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, against the backdrop of continuing concerns over kidnapping for ransom and recent operations in Kwara State and other parts of northern Nigeria where victims were rescued without their captors being killed or apprehended.
Explaining the strategy, Musa said military operations do not always require a direct confrontation with the terrorists.
“Sometimes if you carry out manoeuvres. The funny thing is, the terrorists too don’t want to die. I hope you know that. All this one they’re doing carrying weapons, they don’t want to die. So once there’s anything, even if it’s a drone that comes, you see them scatter away and leave everybody. That’s what happens,” he said.
He explained that after identifying the location of the terrorists, troops work to prevent them from accessing routes through which they could escape or receive supplies.
“So what we normally do is once we’re able to identify where they are, we block avenues for them. Like I said, take out the oxygen, they will die. So those are the aspects, and that’s why as long as people go to support to sneak in, give them fuel, give them water, give them food, give them all this, these are the things that are making them thrive. Once they don’t have that, they can’t survive,” Musa stated.
The minister also addressed the issue of ransom payments, saying money paid to kidnappers could provide security agencies with an opportunity to trace criminal networks and their financial activities.
He disclosed that the Central Bank of Nigeria was also working to track funds suspected to be connected with criminal operations.
“I’m happy that the CBN too is living up to expectation, trying to make sure that even if we were able to trace monies that are coming in from those other areas, we can track back where they are,” he said.
Musa Warns Against Giving Motorcycles as Palliatives
Musa also appealed to state governors to reconsider the practice of distributing motorcycles as palliatives and constituency projects.
He warned that some of the motorcycles provided to citizens could eventually fall into the hands of terrorists and bandits, giving them an easier means of moving around and escaping security operations.
“We try to appeal to even governors to stop selling motorcycle—giving motorcycles out as palliatives. Because these motorcycles are the same ones that still end up to with this… with these terrorists into using,” he said.
The Defence Minister advised that where motorcycles must be distributed, governments should consider smaller-capacity models that would be less useful to criminals seeking to move quickly through difficult terrain.
“Even if you have to give, don’t give them the big capacity motorcycles, give them the small capacity ones that they will not be… won’t be able to use to run around, because that gives them leverage. They can easily enter and then disappear,” Musa added.
He further alleged that motorcycles distributed through constituency projects and government palliative programmes could eventually find their way into the hands of bandits.
Musa’s comments come as security agencies continue operations against kidnapping and other forms of criminal activity across different parts of the country, with authorities seeking ways to rescue victims while limiting risks to their lives.
Adeola Kunle
No comments:
Post a Comment