The Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), has explained how security forces sometimes rescue abducted victims without arresting or killing the terrorists holding them.

The clarification comes amid ongoing public concern over the persistence of kidnapping for ransom and questions about recent military operations in which troops rescued abducted victims without arresting or killing the terrorists, as seen in operations in Kwara State and other parts of the North.

Asked how troops were, in many cases, able to rescue victims without bloodshed or paying ransom, Musa said the strategy involved identifying the location of the terrorists, blocking their escape routes and cutting off their access to food, water, fuel and other supplies needed to survive.

He said terrorists often flee when confronted by security forces, leaving their captives behind.

The minister spoke on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday.

“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.

Musa added, “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.”

The minister also said ransom payments could be used as a means of tracing terrorists, adding that the Central Bank of Nigeria was working to track funds linked to criminal activities.

“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 urged state governors to reconsider the distribution of motorcycles as palliatives, saying some of the motorcycles later end up in the hands of terrorists and provide them with mobility.

“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. 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,” he said.

He further alleged that motorcycles distributed as constituency projects and palliatives could find their way back to bandits.

Source: punchng.com

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Yoruba Nation activist and founder of the Iru Ekun Security Network, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has declared that the fight against criminal elements in the South-West will continue to ensure the effective security of the region.

He attributed the recent reduction in kidnapping, banditry and other violent crimes in Yorubaland to the tactical support given to the Iru Ekun Security Network by the police, Nigerian Army, Department of State Services and other security agencies.

A statement from Igboho’s media office, forwarded to The PUNCH in Ibadan, said the activist made the declaration during the launch of Iru Ekun in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

Describing security as a collective responsibility regardless of political, ethnic or religious differences, Igboho said, “Our commitment is to restore the confidence of our people in the South-West in the government’s ability to guarantee a peaceful and enabling environment for healthy socio-economic development.

“It is visible for all to see that the ignoble activities of rogue herders, bandits and kidnappers, who hitherto shattered the peace of our agrarian communities and other communities, have subsided since Iru Ekun Security Network began operations, backed by the police, military personnel and DSS operatives.

“We are not backing down or relenting until we make the South-West forests, highways and agrarian communities safe for all. We cannot afford to create chances for hoodlums to turn our region into their safe haven.

“Everything humanly and legally possible must be done to support the administration of President Bola Tinubu, who approved the establishment of Iru Ekun to further develop the South-West and other parts of Nigeria. This can only be achieved through effective security in our region.”

While explaining the procedures of Iru Ekun to volunteers who joined the security outfit in Ondo, Igboho cautioned them against confronting criminals without notifying the relevant security agencies in their areas.

The statement quoted him as saying, “Anytime you notice the activities of bandits on highways connecting Ondo, Osun and Ekiti states, or other criminals in your locality, you must notify the police and other security agencies before confronting them.

“Be proactive by not sparing any bandits, because if you hesitate in taking action, you may be shot dead by these deadly criminals. We recently lost one of our members in Iwere-Ile to armed bandits who killed him during a gun duel.

“I want you to be alert so that you don’t lose your life in the course of action. We are resolute and will not back down on our onslaught against bandits, kidnappers and other criminal elements in the South-West.

“If you notice, you will discover that incidents of kidnapping, banditry, herders and farmers’ clashes have reduced. We continue to sustain this feat and ensure that the South-West is free from these hoodlums.”

Meanwhile, the Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, and prominent traditional rulers in the state have rallied support for the Iru Ekun Security Network.

According to the statement, the Deji of Akure, Oba Adetoyinbo Aladelusi, and the Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin, received Igboho in their palaces and pledged to support the operations of Iru Ekun.

They also urged their subjects to cooperate with all security agencies to improve safety and maintain peace in their communities.

Source: punchng.com

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No fewer than nine people, comprising four civilians and five security personnel, were killed during an operation to rescue victims abducted by suspected members of an international terrorist group in Oyo State.

The Director-General of the Department of State Services, Tosin Ajayi, disclosed this in an interview published by Premium Times.

He explained that security operatives launched an immediate pursuit of the kidnappers after receiving credible intelligence about the incident.

Ajayi said a vigilante and a police officer were killed during the initial pursuit, while more fatalities were recorded during a subsequent raid on the kidnappers’ hideout.

“Immediately after the incident happened, based on credible intelligence, troops chased them immediately, and sadly, a vigilante and a policeman were killed. During the second raid, more were killed, making a total of nine fatalities, four civilians and five security personnel,” Ajayi said.

The DSS boss described the rescue operation as complex, noting that the victims included a two-and-a-half-year-old child who could not have escaped quickly during an assault on the location.

“It was a complex operation involving a two-and-a-half-year-old infant who could not run much if we invaded the place,” he explained.

Ajayi also raised concerns over what he described as widespread disinformation circulated on social media during the rescue operation.

He said videos purportedly showing children being tortured during the incident were actually old footage from another country and were unrelated to the Oyo operation.

“As expected, the rescue operation attracted a lot of social media disinformation. You have to sieve the information there,” he said.

He added, “While that incident lasted, they were posting deepfake videos of children beaten with lacerations on their bodies. They were actually footage from a particular country on witchcraft-related incidents passed off as real-time crude events here.”

The DSS DG urged the media to intensify fact-checking and ensure that verified information was separated from false narratives, particularly during sensitive security operations.

“Recall the victims recounted how well-treated they were by the criminals. So, one of the things I’d like you to do in the media is fact-finding and separating facts from fiction,” he said.

Ajayi said the kidnap group involved in the incident was an international terrorist organisation with links to Al-Qaeda, adding that the Service had previously arrested its leaders.

He disclosed that the arrested kingpins were linked to the Abuja-Kaduna train attack and had allegedly been planning further abductions targeting foreigners, students, women and children.

“Citizens ought to know that the incarcerated leaders of the kidnap group who were requested in exchange for the victims were arrested last year by the Service; their arrest helped to prevent high-profile attacks,” Ajayi said.

He added that the suspects were “found complicit in the Abuja/Kaduna train attack and were planning more kidnappings of foreigners, students, women and their children on a large scale.”

According to him, the group was seeking recognition as a state and freedom to practise its religion in a designated territory, and arresting its leaders was a proactive security measure.

Ajayi said the kingpins and three other collaborators had been sentenced to life imprisonment, although the DSS would seek stiffer punishment.

“The kingpins are the ones now sentenced to life imprisonment. The three other collaborators earned life imprisonment, and the Service will push for a stiffer penalty,” he said.

The Oyo abduction reportedly occurred on May 15, 2026, when armed men attacked three schools in Oriire LGA and abducted pupils and teachers.

Security agencies in the country subsequently conducted a joint operation that led to the rescue of the victims.

Source: punchng.com

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