The organisation said public expectations that the Armed Forces of Nigeria should immediately storm every identified kidnappers’ hideout often overlook the complex and dangerous conditions under which such operations are conducted.
Speaking on behalf of the group, its Executive Director, Abdul Ganiyu, explained that military and police rescue missions are not straightforward combat exercises, stressing that the safety of abducted victims remains the top priority in all tactical decisions.
According to him, kidnappers frequently use hostages as human shields and often relocate victims across multiple concealed locations within vast forest environments, making direct military assaults highly risky.
“The public must understand that rescue operations are not as simple as deploying troops into the forest to engage criminals. In many situations, abductors position victims in ways that make any sudden attack potentially fatal for the hostages,” Ganiyu said.
He further noted that security forces are required to rely heavily on intelligence gathering, surveillance operations, negotiation channels, and carefully coordinated tactical planning before carrying out any offensive action.
Ganiyu added that forests used as criminal hideouts are often difficult terrain, with limited access routes, poor visibility, and strategic ambush points known only to the kidnappers, giving them a tactical advantage in many cases.
He warned that poorly planned or rushed military operations could lead to unintended consequences, including mass casualties among abducted persons and even security personnel.
Citing global counter-insurgency and anti-banditry experiences, the CSO executive said that security commanders often avoid immediate large-scale assaults where the risk to hostages is high, preferring intelligence-led and precision-based interventions.
While acknowledging the frustration of Nigerians over persistent kidnapping cases, the organisation maintained that operational decisions must be guided by intelligence assessments and professional judgment rather than emotional pressure or public demand for swift action.
The group also commended the Armed Forces of Nigeria, intelligence services, and other security agencies for what it described as their continued efforts under difficult and life-threatening conditions to rescue abducted citizens.
Ganiyu further called on communities to play a stronger role in supporting security operations by providing timely and credible intelligence that could help identify kidnappers’ movements, hideouts, and logistical networks.
“Every rescue operation must strike a balance between urgency and caution. The ultimate goal is not just to confront criminals but to ensure that abducted Nigerians return home alive,” he added.
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