Retired Major General Anthony Atolagbe, once a field commander of Operation Safe Haven, has cautioned Nigerians against expecting every rescue mission to end with kidnappers in handcuffs or body bags.
Commenting on the recent safe return of 24 abducted schoolgirls from Maga in Kebbi State, he insisted that the only non-negotiable goal is bringing the victims home alive, even if that requires allowing the abductors to slip away temporarily.Atolagbe pointed out that bandits frequently mingle with their captives, deliberately turning the hostages into human shields and making a forceful assault extremely risky.
He cited the tragic 2002 Moscow theater hostage crisis, where the use of incapacitating gas by Russian special forces saved some lives but killed over 130 civilians, as a stark reminder that prioritizing arrests over survival can have catastrophic consequences.
In such situations, he said, on-the-spot commanders must make agonizing choices between immediate justice and preserving innocent lives.The former general also highlighted Nigeria’s persistent gaps in surveillance technology and real-time intelligence, which leave remote schools and highways vulnerable to surprise attacks.
He advocated stronger collaboration with foreign partners, particularly the United States, for satellite and drone support that could track bandit movements more reliably.
Atolagbe welcomed President Tinubu’s order to redeploy thousands of police officers currently guarding VIPs and endorsed proposals for round-the-clock air-backed security patrols in the vast forests of Kwara and Niger states, measures he believes will gradually tilt the balance against the criminals.
