The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd.), has explained that the vast size and difficult terrain of the Sambisa Forest are major factors hampering the swift rescue of Nigerians abducted by terrorists.
Musa made this known during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he discussed the Federal Government’s ongoing efforts to tackle terrorism and kidnapping across the country.
According to the minister, security agencies have continued to rescue abducted Nigerians, but terrorists often flee into expansive forest areas before troops can establish their locations.
He described the Sambisa Forest as being comparable in size to Belgium, stressing that its vastness makes security operations particularly challenging.
“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,” Musa said.
The Defence Minister explained that terrorists often have a head start because they escape into the bush before security agencies receive information about an abduction.
“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 security forces sometimes have to cut off terrorists’ escape routes and access to supplies before successfully rescuing their victims.
Musa cited a recent operation in Kwara State, where troops rescued abducted victims after restricting the movement of their abductors.
He said terrorists could also abandon their captives when military pressure intensifies, creating opportunities for security forces to recover the victims.
The minister further disclosed that authorities were monitoring financial transactions linked to criminal activities, noting that ransom payments could provide useful intelligence for tracking kidnappers.
He said the Central Bank of Nigeria was also involved in efforts to monitor suspicious financial flows associated with criminal activities.
Musa also cautioned state governors against indiscriminately distributing motorcycles as palliatives, warning that some of the vehicles could find their way into the hands of terrorists and enhance their mobility.
Despite the operational challenges posed by Nigeria’s vast forests and difficult terrain, the Defence Minister maintained that security agencies were making progress in the fight against terrorism and kidnapping.
