Former Field Commander of Operation Safe Haven, Major General Anthony Magnawa Atolagbe (Rtd.), has urged Nigerians to understand that rescue missions do not always lead to the arrest or elimination of kidnappers, saying the primary objective is often to save lives, not engage in combat.
His comment follows public concerns over the release of 24 schoolgirls abducted from Government Girls Secondary School, Maga, in Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State, who regained their freedom without any reported arrests.
Speaking on ARISE News on Tuesday, Atolagbe said many Nigerians misunderstand how rescue missions work, noting that field conditions differ significantly from public expectations.
“It is not in every case that you will have neutralised abductors. What plays out on the field is not paperwork. A lot happens when you interact with people of this nature.”
He explained that rescue operations are delicate and different from outright combat.
“It’s not as if we are fighting a war against these guys; we are going on a rescue mission,” he said.
Atolagbe referenced a 2002 Russian hostage rescue operation where hundreds were held in a cinema, noting that despite military intervention, many civilians still died due to the methods used.
“At the end of the day, many civilians died because of the tactics used. So it is not in every case that negotiations happen or that money is involved,” he noted.
He added that kidnappers often place themselves among hostages, limiting what troops can do without endangering victims.
“You want to get the children out safe and alive. When you meet these people inserted between the children, what do you do?” he asked. “They may tell you: ‘Allow us to pull out and then you can take your children.’ Would you insist on capturing them, or leave them for a later date since you already know where they operate?”
Atolagbe said such critical decisions are left to officers leading the operation.
“The commander on the ground has the best initiative at that moment to decide what to do and what not to do,” he said.
On rising insecurity in Kwara State—where 38 church worshippers were recently abducted and released, followed by the kidnapping of at least 11 residents in Isapa—Atolagbe said attacks remain unpredictable due to Nigeria’s limited surveillance capability.
“The conflict environment — what we call the protection environment — is very fluid. You can’t say it will happen here today or not happen there tomorrow. We don’t have the technology to cover the entire space.”
He backed President Bola Tinubu’s directive withdrawing police personnel from VIP protection duties, saying it would free nearly 100,000 officers for broader national deployment.
Discussing the terrain of the latest Kwara incident, Atolagbe said the area is particularly vulnerable.
“I passed that road recently; it is one of the slowest roads around. Even if you are driving by the grace of God, you may run into these people.”
He explained that vigilantes initially repelled the attackers, but the criminals seized passing travellers as they fled. “It was an opportunity-type capture,” he said.
Atolagbe also welcomed plans for a 24-hour security cordon in Kwara and Niger forests, supported by Air Force surveillance.
“The Air Force has aircraft that can capture pictures on the ground and relay them straight to the operations room. The same goes for drones — depending on the number you deploy,” he said.
He further stated that intelligence support from international partners could be decisive.
“What I also see as a likely game-changer is America coming to our support. They have adequate information on the entire space covering the locations of these bandits. If they provide this information, it will be like wal
king straight in on them,” Atolagbe said.
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