Sambisa Forest Size Makes Rescue Operations Difficult — Defence Minister

The Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), has attributed some of the challenges faced by security forces in rescuing kidnapped victims to the vast size and difficult terrain of Nigeria’s forests, particularly the Sambisa Forest.

Musa spoke on Friday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he discussed the Federal Government’s efforts to combat terrorism, kidnapping and other security threats across the country.

According to the minister, security agencies have rescued a significant number of kidnapped victims in recent months, but the vast forest terrain often gives abductors an opportunity to evade troops before their locations can be identified.

He said, “Few months now, efforts have been made. If you notice, on a daily basis now, we are really getting, rescuing a lot of them.”

Musa explained that the sheer size of the Sambisa Forest makes it difficult for security forces to immediately locate terrorists and kidnappers after an attack.

“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.

The minister further explained that criminals often retreat into the forests immediately after carrying out abductions, making rescue operations more complicated.

“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.

“So what they do is that once these abductions are done, before the information gets to anybody, these guys are already into the forest.”

Musa said security forces sometimes have to cut off terrorists from their escape routes and supplies before they can successfully rescue their victims.

He cited a recent operation in Kwara State, where troops were able to rescue kidnapped victims after restricting the movement of the abductors.

“And then the last one that was done in Kwara State, we had to quarantine where they were going, deny them oxygen, and that’s where we were able to get them,” he said.

According to him, increased military pressure could also force terrorists to abandon their victims, thereby creating an opportunity for security forces to intervene and rescue them.

The minister disclosed that security agencies were also monitoring financial transactions linked to criminal activities, noting that ransom payments could provide intelligence for tracking kidnappers.

He added that the Central Bank of Nigeria was involved in efforts to monitor suspicious financial flows associated with criminal activities.

Musa also urged state governors to exercise caution when distributing motorcycles as palliatives, warning that such gestures could inadvertently provide terrorists with additional means of transportation.

Despite the challenges posed by Nigeria’s vast forests and difficult terrain, the Defence Minister maintained that security forces were making progress in the fight against terrorism and kidnapping.