Air Force, Drones Failed to Penetrate Forest Canopy in Oyo Rescue — Army Commander

The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 2 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Chinedu Nnebeife, has revealed that aerial surveillance by the Nigerian Air Force and military drone teams failed to locate the abducted pupils and teachers in Oyo State because of the dense forest canopy covering the Old Oyo National Park.

According to the Army commander, the inability of aircraft and drones to penetrate the thick vegetation forced security forces to launch a risky ground operation that eventually secured the victims’ freedom but resulted in the deaths of an officer and a soldier.

Nnebeife disclosed this on Monday while briefing journalists on the operation that led to the rescue of 44 pupils and teachers who spent 56 days in captivity after terrorists attacked three schools in Ahoro-Esiele, Yawota and Alawusa communities on May 15.

He explained that the forest terrain made aerial reconnaissance almost impossible.

“Because of the nature of the forest and how thick it is, we deployed drone teams and the Nigerian Air Force, but they could not see anything. In some places, even the rays of sunlight cannot penetrate the canopy,” he said.

The commander noted that the situation left security agencies with no option but to conduct an extensive ground operation deep inside the forest.

“It was during one of these operations that we lost an officer and a soldier, while others sustained injuries. One of the injured personnel suffered a broken arm after being shot,” he added.

Nnebeife said the setback prompted him to assume direct command of the operation, bringing together personnel from several security agencies, including the Office of the National Security Adviser, the National Counter-Terrorism Centre, the Nigerian Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, Department of State Services, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the National Intelligence Agency.

He disclosed that the first rescue attempt, carried out with local hunters and vigilantes shortly after the abduction, was unsuccessful and also claimed the lives of some of the volunteers.

The commander said sustained intelligence gathering and coordinated pressure on the terrorists eventually paid off.

According to him, security forces blocked the kidnappers’ major logistics route through Ashamu, placing the group under severe pressure until they agreed to release the victims unconditionally.

“At the final phase of the operation, we blocked their major logistics route, and that forced them to release the captives. But our objective goes beyond the rescue. We remain committed to ending terrorist activities in that region,” he stated.

The Army reiterated that the Federal Government refused to negotiate with the kidnappers or accept their demands, including the release of a detained Boko Haram commander.

The rescue operation was completed on July 10, with all 44 victims safely recovered after nearly two months in captivity.