A former top DSS official has explained why the successful rescue model used in Oyo State cannot simply be copy-pasted to tackle the worsening kidnapping crisis in Northern Nigeria.
A former Assistant Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mohammed Ngoshe, has stirred national conversation after stating that the intelligence-led rescue operation that freed abducted pupils and teachers in Oyo State cannot be replicated in Northern Nigeria — and his reasons are as sobering as they are revealing.
What Happened in Oyo?
For those who may have missed it, security operatives recently pulled off what many Nigerians described as a rare win — the successful rescue of kidnapped school pupils and their teachers in Oyo State. The operation was swift, precise, and most importantly, the victims came home alive. Naturally, many Nigerians began asking the big question: Why can’t we do this everywhere?
Enter Mohammed Ngoshe, a man who clearly knows the inner workings of Nigeria’s security architecture, and he has some hard truths to share.
The Northern Challenge Is a Different Beast Entirely
According to Ngoshe, the conditions that made the Oyo rescue possible simply do not exist in many parts of the North. The South-West, particularly Oyo State, benefits from a combination of factors that give security agencies a fighting chance — including better community intelligence networks, more cooperative local populations, and terrain that is relatively easier to navigate and monitor.
The North, on the other hand, presents a completely different operational environment. Vast, ungoverned spaces — think the thick forests of Zamfara, the rugged terrains of Kaduna, and the borderland communities of Borno — make tracking kidnappers and bandits exponentially harder. These criminal elements know the land far better than any security operative deployed from Abuja.
The Intelligence Gap Is Real
One of the most critical points raised by the former DSS chief is the intelligence gap. Effective rescues depend heavily on timely, accurate, and actionable intelligence — and that kind of intelligence comes from communities who trust security agencies enough to share information.
In many Northern communities, years of military heavy-handedness, broken promises, and unresolved grievances have eroded that trust significantly. When locals are more afraid of both the bandits and the security forces, building the kind of grassroots intelligence network that worked in Oyo becomes nearly impossible.
So What Is the Solution?
Ngoshe did not just identify problems without pointing toward answers. His position suggests a multi-pronged approach is needed:
– Community engagement and trust-building must come before any serious intelligence gathering can happen in the North
– Long-term investment in local informant networks, rather than reactionary deployments
– Addressing root causes — poverty, unemployment, and historical marginalisation — that continue to fuel banditry and kidnapping
– Better inter-agency coordination between the DSS, military, police, and local vigilante groups like the Civilian JTF and Yan Sakai
The Bigger Picture for Every Nigerian
This conversation matters to every Nigerian — whether you are a parent in Kankara still haunted by the 2020 mass abduction, a trader in Oyo grateful for a security win, or a student anywhere in this country wondering if your school is safe.
The truth is, Nigeria’s insecurity crisis is not monolithic. What works in Lagos or Ibadan will not automatically work in Sokoto or Plateau State. Our security responses must be as diverse, nuanced, and locally informed as the threats themselves.
Until we close the intelligence gap, rebuild community trust, and address the socioeconomic conditions breeding criminality, we will keep celebrating isolated rescues while the larger problem festers.
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The conversation around Nigeria’s security architecture is one we cannot afford to shy away from. What do you think — is the government doing enough to address the root causes of kidnapping in the North? Drop your thoughts in the comments.
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