- Ex-DSS chief explains Oyo rescue operation
- He says every kidnapping case is different
- Ngoshe urges Nigerians to trust security agencies
A former Assistant Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mohammed Ngoshe, has said the successful rescue of abducted pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State cannot automatically be replicated in every kidnapping case because each security operation presents unique challenges.
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Wednesday, Eko Hot Blog gathered that Ngoshe urged Nigerians to have greater confidence in the country’s security agencies, insisting that many successful operations go unnoticed by the public.
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According to him, security personnel regularly prevent numerous attacks before they occur, although such efforts rarely receive public attention.
Ngoshe explained that the circumstances surrounding the Oriire rescue differed significantly from those in other parts of the country, particularly insurgency-affected areas in the North-East.
He noted that factors influencing criminal activities in Oyo State were different from those in places such as Gwoza in Borno State, where insurgency has remained a major security concern.
Drawing from his personal experience as an indigene of Gwoza, Ngoshe said many residents of the area were still being held captive, highlighting the complexity of the security situation in the region.
Commenting on the recurring violence in Plateau State, the former DSS official attributed much of the conflict to cycles of retaliatory attacks between communities.
He said attacks on one community often trigger revenge attacks from the affected group, making the crisis more difficult to contain.
Ngoshe also defended the security agencies’ handling of the Oriire rescue, arguing that sensitive operations cannot be conducted in the public eye or through media updates.
He claimed the kidnappers initially sought the release of detained Ansaru members but later came under sustained pressure from security operatives.
According to him, security agencies intensified intelligence operations by targeting the group’s support network and cutting off access to food, weapons and other logistical support.
He said the pressure eventually forced the abductors to release the victims after their demands were rejected.
Ngoshe further disclosed that security operatives later engaged the kidnappers, resulting in the death of some suspects, while others who were arrested succumbed to injuries. He added that surviving suspects were undergoing legal processes for prosecution.
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