By Ibukun Emiola
A peace and conflict resolution expert, Prof. Olawale Albert, has urged the Federal Government (FG) to adopt the strategy that secured the release of the abducted Oriire victims for similar incidents.
Albert, a professor of Peace and Strategic Studies, University of Ibadan, advised in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan on Saturday.
He commended the FG, Oyo State Government and security agencies for ensuring the safe release of the victims, describing the operation as a major lesson in counter-terrorism.
According to him, the rescue demonstrates the effectiveness of collaboration among security agencies, local hunters and community members.
“The first lesson is the importance of effective coordination in counter-terrorism. Several security agencies worked together, and that cooperation produced results.
“The question now is how to replicate this model in other parts of Nigeria where many abducted persons are still in captivity,” he said.
Albert also said the operation showed that successful rescue missions should not rely solely on military force.
He said the safe return of all the victims suggested that both coercive and non-coercive measures, including negotiation, were deployed.
“A rescue operation is not necessarily a purely military operation.
“It is likely that military efforts were combined with negotiation to secure the safe release of the victims without casualties.
“The priority should always be to save lives before dealing with the abductors,” he said.
The don further stressed the importance of public cooperation during security operations, noting that the calm maintained by residents throughout the rescue efforts contributed to the successful outcome.
He, however, expressed concern about the alleged inadequate collaboration between the FG and Oyo State Governments during the operation.
He said that closer cooperation could have shortened the victims’ captivity.
Albert also called for research into how the abductors sustained the children for close to two months in captivity.
According to him, understanding the logistics and support networks available to criminal groups will help security agencies prevent similar incidents in future.
Albert also urged governments at all levels to avoid politicising security matters, insisting that effective collaboration remained essential to tackling terrorism and kidnapping across the country. (NAN)
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