A former Assistant Director-General of the Department of State Services, Mohammed Ngoshe, has said sustained military and security operations forced the kidnappers of pupils and teachers in Oyo State to release their victims after weeks in captivity.
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Wednesday, Ngoshe commended the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies for the successful rescue, saying their efforts deserved praise rather than criticism.
He dismissed suggestions that authorities were not transparent about the operation, stressing that the focus should be on the successful rescue.
“After all, the thing has now become a matter of public interest, so it is not going to be swept under the carpet for whatever reason, but I think the time is not right for all these kinds of comments to be made on the operation.
“I think we should be eulogising the state services and other security services for doing what they have done and doing it very well,” he said.
Ngoshe explained that security operatives tightened the noose around the kidnappers by sealing off their hideout, disrupting supplies, and neutralising their support network, leaving them with little room to operate.
“Now the problem, to them (the terrorists), was how to resolve the matter amicably. Amicably in the sense that they wanted a lifeline, and that lifeline did not come because the security forces did not accede to it,” he said.
He noted that troops established control around the area, preventing the criminals from receiving food, weapons, or intelligence from collaborators.
“There was a congregation of security forces, and positions were taken after the location was isolated. And the whole community around that place was dominated.
“They (terrorists) were denied access to food. They were denied access to weapons. Their informants were taken out and used as assets.
“Videos of all these operations were ferried to them, and they saw that they had no option but to surrender,” he stated.
According to him, three security personnel were killed after triggering improvised explosive devices while advancing on the kidnappers’ position.
“It was in the process of closing in on them after they were encircled that the three forces from the police, army, and other security services that were lost through IED, they marched on IED and they were killed,” he added.
Ngoshe said the kidnappers eventually released the pupils when they realised defeat was imminent.
“So getting to the level where they were to be annihilated completely, they gave out the children thinking that that will resolve the matter. After the children were successfully resolved, the Forces engaged them,” he said.
The rescued pupils and teachers had spent 56 days in captivity after being abducted in Oriire Local Government Area before security forces secured their freedom.