Why We Didn’t Kill Katsina Schoolboys’ Abductors — Military

The Nigerian military on Saturday made some disclosures on how
it carried out the rescue operation of the 344 boys kidnapped from
their school in Kankara, Katsina State, on December 11.

The military disclosed that while kinetic and non-kinetic
approaches were used to ensure that all the boys were rescued
unhurt, there was resistance from the abductors who laid an ambush
for the troops.

The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. John
Enenche, and a former Director, Military Intelligence, Maj.Gen.
Ahmed Jibrin (retd,), gave the accounts on Saturday when they
featured on a special edition of the Nigerian Television Authority
programme, “Good Morning Nigeria.”

The News Agency of Nigeria identified Jibrin as the Special
Technical Adviser to the Minister of Defence, Maj. Gen. Bashir
Magashi (retd.).

Jibrin said following the abduction of the boys, the minister
led a delegation, including the Service Chiefs and the National
Security Adviser, to Katsina and Kankara.

He said the minister gave the rules of engagement, directing the
troops to ensure that the abducted boys were rescued without
casualties and within the shortest time possible.

He said, “Following the directive, the troops closed in on the
abductors from four different fronts, including the reinforcement
that was made from other divisions, to ensure that the entire
location was sealed off.

“The bandits were all under siege and they were fully aware of
that, feeling the impacts of the presence of the troops both from
the air and on the ground.

“When they approached the location where the boys were held, the
troops encountered some pockets of opposition which they cleared
and moved deeper into the forest.

“Although there was no casualty on the part of the boys, a lot
of the bandits were neutralised because in the attempt by the
military to move forward, they laid ambush in two places along the
way.

“In fact, in the second place where they laid ambush, there was
serious resistance because they were hiding and had occupied the
road.

“They delayed the movement of the troops for some hours before
they were neutralised.”

Jibrin said while the troops were on the field, negotiations
were ongoing at another level of the rescue efforts.

He said the troops could not completely demobilise the bandits
because of possible collateral damage as the abducted boys were
used as human shields.

On the claim by the Boko Haram terrorists that they were
responsible for the abduction, Jibrin said the group was only
seeking cheap relevance.

“(Abubakar) Shekau does not have the reach to carry out the
abduction because a lot is being done to stop them in the
North-East.

“He is just taking advantage of what happened to get publicity
locally and internationally; it is clear that the abduction was
done by bandits.

“All their efforts when they were trying to reach out to the
bandits, which they did, were monitored,’’ he said.

On his part, Enenche said the rescue mission, like any other
one, was a delicate operation because if it was not carried out
very professionally, the tide could turn negatively.

“This is an operation where you do not rely on your capacity on
platforms and mechanical weapons but your ability to effectively
carry out the mission with unarmed combat.

“This means you have to silence your enemies and take your
objective away without firing a shot.

“It is very delicate in the sense that if you do not manage the
operation well, the children who are in-between you and the enemies
will now become the victims.

“When they become the victims, the people outside there will
attribute it to failure on the part of your security forces,’’ he
said.

The Nigerian military on Saturday made some disclosures on how
it carried out the rescue operation of the 344 boys kidnapped from
their school in Kankara, Katsina State, on December 11.

The military disclosed that while kinetic and non-kinetic
approaches were used to ensure that all the boys were rescued
unhurt, there was resistance from the abductors who laid an ambush
for the troops.

The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. John
Enenche, and a former Director, Military Intelligence, Maj.Gen.
Ahmed Jibrin (retd,), gave the accounts on Saturday when they
featured on a special edition of the Nigerian Television Authority
programme, “Good Morning Nigeria.”

The News Agency of Nigeria identified Jibrin as the Special
Technical Adviser to the Minister of Defence, Maj. Gen. Bashir
Magashi (retd.).

Jibrin said following the abduction of the boys, the minister
led a delegation, including the Service Chiefs and the National
Security Adviser, to Katsina and Kankara.

He said the minister gave the rules of engagement, directing the
troops to ensure that the abducted boys were rescued without
casualties and within the shortest time possible.

He said, “Following the directive, the troops closed in on the
abductors from four different fronts, including the reinforcement
that was made from other divisions, to ensure that the entire
location was sealed off.

“The bandits were all under siege and they were fully aware of
that, feeling the impacts of the presence of the troops both from
the air and on the ground.

“When they approached the location where the boys were held, the
troops encountered some pockets of opposition which they cleared
and moved deeper into the forest.

“Although there was no casualty on the part of the boys, a lot
of the bandits were neutralised because in the attempt by the
military to move forward, they laid ambush in two places along the
way.

“In fact, in the second place where they laid ambush, there was
serious resistance because they were hiding and had occupied the
road.

“They delayed the movement of the troops for some hours before
they were neutralised.”

Jibrin said while the troops were on the field, negotiations
were ongoing at another level of the rescue efforts.

He said the troops could not completely demobilise the bandits
because of possible collateral damage as the abducted boys were
used as human shields.

On the claim by the Boko Haram terrorists that they were
responsible for the abduction, Jibrin said the group was only
seeking cheap relevance.

“(Abubakar) Shekau does not have the reach to carry out the
abduction because a lot is being done to stop them in the
North-East.

“He is just taking advantage of what happened to get publicity
locally and internationally; it is clear that the abduction was
done by bandits.

“All their efforts when they were trying to reach out to the
bandits, which they did, were monitored,’’ he said.

On his part, Enenche said the rescue mission, like any other
one, was a delicate operation because if it was not carried out
very professionally, the tide could turn negatively.

“This is an operation where you do not rely on your capacity on
platforms and mechanical weapons but your ability to effectively
carry out the mission with unarmed combat.

“This means you have to silence your enemies and take your
objective away without firing a shot.

“It is very delicate in the sense that if you do not manage the
operation well, the children who are in-between you and the enemies
will now become the victims.

“When they become the victims, the people outside there will
attribute it to failure on the part of your security forces,’’ he
said.