Ahoro-Esinele: Encircled for 8 days, but victims couldn’t be rescued, this is embarrassing! By Ben GEORGE
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That terrorists struck in three schools in Oriire local government area in Ogbomoso zone of Oyo state, is no more news, what is news however could be that the victims of the kidnapping are still held in captivity since last Saturday (May 16) after security operatives comprising soldiers, policemen, Civil Defence men, Amotekun Corps operatives, traditional hunters among others, successfully tracked and located them. That is a bit embarrassing so to say, that our security agents, the conventional ones, have no strategy or the required technology to retrieve the 45 abductees from the grasp of the dare-devil bandits.
Yes, they did a yeoman’s job swiftly locating the suspected terrorists and trapping them, that is highly commendable. And to have kept them within range is also laudable, in fact, kudos to Governor Seyi Makinde and the security agents for that unprecedented feat. From what is gathered from the frontline, the Amotekun operatives and the local hunters (ode ibile) deserve much praise, for their doggedness in keeping the criminals holed up. I doubt if such had really happened anywhere in Nigeria, that the bandits would be tracked and trapped within 48 hours and encircled, hooked up, it is a great feat, I repeat. That is great will and a message that bandits cannot hold sway in Ogbomoso area, the gallant spirit of the past is still inherent in the present generation. That is why Ogbomoso is regarded as the “City of the Valiant.” The Ogbomoso Amotekun and the traditional hunters and other local security agents have shown grit, it is gathered. In fact, someone remarked that if it were to be conventional security agents alone, the bandits would have long slipped away, except the scenarios of the north doesn’t playout here. Governor Makinde has also displayed brave leadership, acting unlike other governors, whose sloppiness allows banditry to escalate by one single misstep. The governor declared he was ready for talks with the bandits, this must have been strange to them. In the past, the bandits would have been gallivanting, they would have seized the initiative, dictating the pace, making ridiculous demands. But in the present circumstances, they have their back to the walls, surrounded by brave security agents, who are undeterred by the initial setback when the criminals attacked with EIDs and dynamites, killing and wounding security agents. Yes, they have the victims but this must be strange to them. This must present a serious predicament to them; they are in the same critical boat as the abductees – between life and death! The bastards must be apprehensive too. This is no north!
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However, it is embarrassing that a week after, our security agents are still helpless breaking the stalemate. It is understandable the safety of the victims is paramount and any careless rush to engage the terrorists will endanger the victims. That is where technology comes in, what have our security agents been doing all these years of their so-called fight against terrorism? This should be a simple matter. Can America behold their targets in this manner and still be powerless, incapacitated for a whole week? Or Israel and many other serious countries? The victims would have been rescued like hot knife slicing butter. This incident has really further exposed our security agencies as lacking in strategy and the cutting edge. It is ridiculous that eight days after, they are stuck, unable to break the impasse, thereby forcing the governor to consider negotiation.
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Within your grasp, and you can’t grab your target. That is embarrassing! All funds voted to bolster security, what have they been utilized on? If it were to be in a sane clime, it is enough to institute probes and interrogate the security heads why they couldn’t break such deadlock!
In my layman view, if you are not considering traditional method to dislodge the bandits and liberate the victims, the use of drones, gas attack (that renders them inactive if there is any like that) can be deployed to break their back. Giving the bandits money at this stage and allowing them to escape will be embarrassing. It will only fuel banditry in the region. God forbid.
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