A former Assistant Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mohammed Ngoshe, has explained why the intelligence-led operation that secured the release of abducted pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State cannot be applied to every kidnapping case across Nigeria.
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Wednesday, Ngoshe said each security operation is influenced by unique circumstances, making it impossible to adopt a single strategy nationwide.
He was responding to questions on why similar rescue operations had not been replicated in states such as Borno, Plateau and Benue, where kidnappings and violent attacks remain widespread.
The retired DSS officer urged Nigerians to have greater confidence in security agencies, insisting that many successful operations are never made public.
“For every successful operation Nigerians see, several others are quietly foiled. These are not easy victories, and the issue of trust deficit should be addressed,” he said.
According to Ngoshe, the factors behind the Oriire school abduction differ significantly from the security realities in northern Nigeria.
“Every security operation has its own dynamics. What happened in Oriire is different from what is happening in Borno. The motivations and circumstances are not the same,” he explained.
Drawing from his personal experience as an indigene of Gwoza in Borno State, Ngoshe said many residents remain in captivity, underscoring the complexity of insurgency-related kidnappings in the North-East.
He also attributed the persistent violence in Plateau State largely to cycles of retaliatory attacks between ethnic communities, particularly between Berom and Fulani groups.
Defending the conduct of the Oriire rescue mission, Ngoshe said security operations cannot be executed in the public eye or through media commentary.
He disclosed that the kidnappers initially demanded the release of detained Ansaru leaders but eventually came under intense pressure from security agencies after key collaborators, relatives and logistical networks were targeted.
According to him, security operatives isolated the abductors by cutting off their access to food, weapons and intelligence, forcing them into negotiations.
“They were denied food, weapons and access to their informants. Eventually, they had no option but to surrender,” he said.
Ngoshe added that after the victims regained their freedom, security forces launched an operation against the kidnappers, during which several suspects were killed while others were arrested.
He said four injured suspects later died in hospital, while the remaining suspects are being processed for prosecution.
The former DSS chief also dismissed concerns about political interference in security operations, maintaining that effective leadership remains the key to operational success.
He described the current Director-General of the DSS as a seasoned operations officer who understands the importance of placing national security above political considerations.
Ngoshe appealed to Nigerians to exercise patience and cooperate with security agencies, stressing that rescue operations require careful planning and cannot be rushed.
His comments come days after the Federal Government announced the successful rescue of all pupils and teachers abducted from Community High School, Oriire, Oyo State, following a 56-day intelligence-driven operation. The victims have since been reunited with their families after receiving medical care and psychosocial support.
