A former Assistant Director-General of the Department of State Services, Mohammed Ngoshe, has disclosed how sustained military pressure forced kidnappers holding pupils and teachers abducted in Oyo State to release their captives after weeks in captivity.
Speaking on Channels Television's The Morning Brief on Wednesday, Ngoshe said personnel of the armed forces and other security agencies executed a coordinated operation that isolated the criminals, disrupted their supply lines and dismantled their intelligence network, leaving them with no viable option but to free the victims.
He commended the security agencies for the operation, urging Nigerians to recognise their efforts rather than criticise the authorities over the limited information released during the rescue mission.
According to him, security operatives strategically surrounded the kidnappers' enclave, cutting off access to food, weapons and other logistics while neutralising informants who had been providing support to the gang.
Ngoshe explained that the sustained pressure weakened the abductors and frustrated attempts to negotiate favourable terms with security agencies.
He said the kidnappers eventually realised they could no longer withstand the operation and released the children in a desperate bid to ease the pressure mounted against them.
The former DSS chief also disclosed that three security operatives lost their lives during the mission after stepping on improvised explosive devices while troops advanced on the kidnappers' hideout.
Despite the casualties, he said the operation continued until the victims regained their freedom, describing the rescue as a testament to the commitment and resilience of the security forces.
The pupils and their teachers were abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, an incident that sparked nationwide concern before security agencies eventually secured their release after nearly two months in captivity.
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