Odita Sunday 
CSPA Urges Nigerians To Understand Security Challenges In Kidnap Rescue Operations
By Odita Sunday
Amid growing public pressure for swift military action against kidnappers’ hideouts, the Centre for Security and Peace Advancement (CSPA) has called for a deeper understanding of the complex realities confronting security forces during rescue operations involving abducted victims.
The civil society organisation said demands for immediate large-scale assaults on criminal enclaves often overlook the dangers such operations could pose to the lives of hostages being held in remote forests across the country.
Speaking on behalf of CSPA, its Executive Director, Abdul Ganiyu, explained that security operations are guided by the priority of protecting lives, including those of kidnapped victims who may be exposed to greater danger during poorly coordinated attacks.
Ganiyu noted that criminal groups often keep abducted persons in scattered locations within thick forests, making direct military assaults highly risky and requiring careful planning.
“The public must understand that rescue missions are not as simple as sending troops into a forest and engaging criminals. In many cases, victims are surrounded by heavily armed kidnappers who may kill hostages at the slightest indication of an approaching military force,” he stated.
The CSPA Executive Director said security agencies rely on intelligence gathering, surveillance, negotiations, and coordinated strategies to create opportunities for successful rescues while reducing casualties among victims and security personnel.
He added that many forests used as hideouts by criminal elements are vast, rugged, and difficult to access, giving kidnappers an advantage due to their familiarity with the terrain.
According to him, such challenging environments require detailed operational planning to prevent ambushes, avoid friendly-fire incidents, and minimise unintended harm to civilians.
Ganiyu further pointed out that experiences from counter-terrorism and anti-banditry operations globally have shown that rushed military offensives can sometimes put hostages at greater risk, a situation security commanders are determined to prevent.
While acknowledging Nigerians’ desire for immediate action against criminal networks, he stressed that security decisions must be driven by credible intelligence, professionalism, and the safety of victims rather than emotional reactions or public pressure.
The organisation commended the Armed Forces of Nigeria, intelligence agencies, and other security services for their continued efforts in rescuing abducted persons despite operating under difficult and life-threatening conditions.
CSPA also appealed to communities across the country to strengthen collaboration with security agencies by providing credible information that could assist authorities in identifying criminal hideouts, movement patterns, and support networks.
“Every rescue operation must balance speed with caution. The ultimate objective is not merely to neutralise criminals but to ensure that innocent Nigerians return home alive. This is why security forces must carefully assess every situation before launching kinetic operations,” Ganiyu concluded.
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