A former Assistant Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mohammed Ngoshe, has shed light on how security forces pressured the kidnappers of the Oriire Local Government Area pupils and teachers in Oyo State to release their victims.
According to Ngoshe, the military and security operatives successfully encircled the criminals’ hideout and cut off their essential support channels.
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Wednesday, the ex-DSS chief commended the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies for the highly coordinated rescue operation, calling on Nigerians to appreciate their efforts.
He brushed off criticisms that the government and security bodies were holding back details of the operation, emphasizing that the primary focus should be on praising the forces for securing the victims’ freedom.
“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,” Ngoshe said.
Detailing how the rescue was executed, the former DSS official explained that security personnel completely isolated the terrorists’ stronghold, cut off their access to supplies, and neutralized their network of informants.
He noted that the heavy pressure applied by the troops left the kidnappers desperately searching for an escape route.
“Now the problem, to them, 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.
Ngoshe explained that the strategic military operation involved surrounding the target zone and blocking all movements of the armed bandits.
“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 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.
Tragically, three security personnel lost their lives after stepping on Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) as the troops closed in on the encampment.
“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.
Realizing they had no chance of surviving the heavy blockade, the abductors ultimately freed the captives.
He stated, “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.”
The successful rescue operation brought an end to a tense standoff after the pupils and teachers were seized in Oyo State’s Oriire Local Government Area, an incident that had sparked countrywide panic and a massive military deployment.
