- Former DSS Assistant Director Dennis Amachree states that the freed victims’ claims and the Federal Government’s account of a military rescue do not contradict each other due to the fluid nature of combat situations.
- Amachree explained that security forces had effectively trapped the terrorists in the forest, cutting off food supplies and communication, which forced the captors’ hands before the release occurred.
- The intelligence expert advised against giving excessive media and social media publicity to terrorist groups, noting that public exposure is one of their primary operational goals.
A former Assistant Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Dennis Amachree, has offered clarity regarding the seemingly conflicting accounts of how abducted schoolchildren and teachers from Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State regained their freedom after 56 days in captivity.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the public debate emerged after one of the freed teachers stated that the terrorists released them before security operatives arrived to escort them home, which appeared to differ from earlier government statements describing a tactical rescue operation involving military force and zero prisoner exchanges.
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Speaking during an interview on TVC News, Amachree explained that both narratives accurately reflect the realities of the operation from different perspectives.
Amachree detailed that security forces had executed a high-pressure tactical encirclement around the bandits inside the forest. By systematically severing their supply routes, cutting off access to food, and disrupting their communication channels, the military effectively rendered the terrorists’ position untenable, leaving them with no viable alternative but to abandon the captives.
He further addressed concerns regarding the public disclosure of operational security details following such high-profile rescues.
Amachree noted that citizens should appreciate the current transparency displayed by security agencies, pointing out that similar counter-terrorism details were historically kept classified for extended periods.
The security analyst concluded by cautioning news organizations and social media users against providing extensive coverage that serves as free publicity for hostile elements, urging the press to align with official military reporting to counter insurgent propaganda.
