By Samuel Ike, Abuja

The Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), has explained how security forces are sometimes able to rescue abducted victims without arresting or killing the terrorists holding them.

Musa said the strategy involves locating the terrorists, blocking their escape routes and cutting off their access to essential supplies such as food, water and fuel.

The clarification comes amid growing public concern over the persistent kidnapping-for-ransom crisis and questions about recent military operations in which troops rescued abducted victims without engaging their captors in direct combat, including operations in Kwara State and other parts of northern Nigeria.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, the minister said terrorists often flee when confronted by security forces, abandoning their captives.

He said, “Sometimes, if you carry out manoeuvres, the funny thing is that the terrorists themselves don’t want to die. I hope you know that. All this business of carrying weapons, they don’t want to die.

“So, once there is anything, even if it is a drone that comes, you see them scatter and leave everybody. That’s what happens.”

Musa explained that security forces, after identifying the location of terrorists, work to restrict their movements and cut off their sources of supplies.

“What we normally do is, once we are able to identify where they are, we block the avenues for them. Like I said, take out the oxygen, they will die.

“So, those are the aspects, and that’s why, as long as people go to support them, sneak in, give them fuel, give them water, give them food and all these things, they are able to thrive.

“Once they don’t have those things, they can’t survive,” he said.

The minister also said ransom payments could provide an avenue for security agencies to trace terrorists and their financial networks.

He disclosed that the Central Bank of Nigeria was working to track funds linked to criminal activities.

“I’m happy that the CBN too is living up to expectations, trying to make sure that even if we are able to trace monies coming in from those other areas, we can track back where they are,” Musa said.