No ransom paid for Oyo rescue operation, former Defence spokesperson insists

By Precious Mark

A former Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General John Enenche (rtd), has declared that no ransom was paid and no prisoners were swapped to secure the release of the abducted Oyo State victims.

He insisted that the successful rescue was a highly specialized, technology-driven military operation.

Enenche made these assertions on Sunday evening during an appearance on Channels Television’s current affairs programme, Sunday Politics.

Addressing the public skepticism surrounding the Federal Government’s strict stance against bargaining with bandits, the retired general acknowledged the deep trust gap between the citizenry and state authorities, attributing it largely to widespread hearsay.

He noted that while it is unfortunate that people find it difficult to believe official narratives, he does not blame them, emphasizing that the government needs better strategic communication with the public.

However, he maintained that executing a hostage release without a financial payout is highly achievable on the battlefield. Based on his own field experience, he explained that such outcomes are entirely possible, reiterating that the military does not bargain or negotiate with terrorists, even if historical cases occasionally involved prisoner swaps.

When asked by the programme anchor whether the tactical layout used in Oyo State could have successfully rescued the Chibok schoolgirls years ago, Enenche pointed out that structural divisions and a lack of advanced logistical tools limited past administrations.

He believed the strategy would have worked then, but noted that the Chibok situation carried heavy religious undertones.

While the girls’ locations were known at the time, penetrating those areas was incredibly difficult because the technology and inter-agency synergy available today simply did not exist. He contrasted this with the Oyo State abduction, where local intelligence was heavily involved, and the government maintained a complete unity of focus.

The retired general clarified that the Oyo State rescue was executed strictly by an elite vanguard rather than regular security ranks.

Describing the push as a technology-driven, highly professional operation, he revealed that it involved specialized officers who executed a psychological operation by targeting the networks of the criminals themselves.

He admitted that tracking criminal cells across expansive terrain takes considerable time with current orbital equipment.

Amid reports that the presidency plans to fund an additional satellite to provide real-time battlefield telemetry, Enenche urged the immediate deployment of alternative domestic defense tools.

He suggested utilizing existing alternatives and securing the right technology, referencing initiatives like Project Gideon, to enhance counter-terrorism efforts.

He encouraged Nigerians to take pride in the nation’s military progress and support the troops on the front lines.

Enenche concluded by calling on retired security chiefs to pool their resources and close operational loopholes, offering a final piece of tactical advice to the Commander-in-Chief to forestall future mass abductions.

He emphasized that Nigeria must urgently upgrade its technology and intelligence approach, summarizing the ultimate strategy as a need to detect, delete, and dominate.

Had threats been properly detected, deleted, and dominated from the very beginning, he argued, the country would not be facing these systemic security challenges today.