By Jelili Gbadamosi
The vast and difficult terrain of the Sambisa Forest is giving terrorists an advantage in evading security forces and hiding kidnapped victims, General (retd.)Christopher Musa, Minister of Defence, has said.
Musa said the size of the forest makes it difficult for troops to quickly locate terrorists and rescue victims after abductions, particularly when security agencies receive information late.
The minister made the disclosure during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, while explaining the challenges confronting ongoing military operations against terrorism and kidnapping.
According to him, security forces have continued to rescue abducted Nigerians, but terrorists often exploit the size of forest areas to disappear before troops can determine their exact location.
“Few ones now, efforts have been made. If you notice, on a daily basis now, we are really getting, rescuing a lot of them,” Musa said.
He described Sambisa Forest as a vast expanse, saying it is comparable in size to Belgium and should not be viewed as a small area that troops can easily search.
“So this government is overwhelmed. Sambisa Forest is as big as Belgium, as a country. So when people talk about this, they make it look as if it is one small football field and we are refusing to do anything,” he said.
Musa explained that terrorists take advantage of the terrain to move their captives and evade security forces, often entering the forest before information about an abduction reaches the authorities.
“These places are massive areas. The forest within Kwara comes in from Burkina Faso to Benin Republic into Nigeria and flows through all these things,” he said.
He added that troops sometimes have to cut off terrorists from their escape routes and sources of supplies before successfully rescuing their victims.
The minister cited a recent operation in Kwara State, where security forces reportedly restricted the movement of abductors before rescuing their victims.
He said terrorists could also abandon their captives when military pressure becomes intense, creating opportunities for security forces to rescue them.
Musa further disclosed that authorities were monitoring financial transactions linked to criminal activities, noting that ransom payments could provide useful leads for tracing kidnappers.
He said the Central Bank of Nigeria was also involved in efforts to monitor suspicious financial transactions associated with criminal activities.
The minister also urged state governors to exercise caution when distributing motorcycles as palliatives, warning that such vehicles could be diverted to terrorists and potentially enhance their mobility.
Musa maintained that despite the challenges posed by Nigeria’s expansive forests and difficult terrain, security forces were making progress in efforts to combat terrorism and kidnapping.
His remarks have, however, sparked debate online, with some Nigerians questioning the explanation and demanding more effective strategies for securing forest areas and rescuing abducted citizens.
