Sambisa Forest Same Size As Belgium, Makes Rescue Operations Difficult — Christopher Musa

The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has attributed some of the difficulties faced by security forces in rescuing kidnapped Nigerians to the vast and challenging terrain where terrorists operate.

Musa said terrorists often move into expansive forests after carrying out abductions, making it difficult for troops to locate and pursue them before they relocate their captives.

Speaking on the security situation, the minister used Sambisa Forest as an example of the scale of the challenge, describing the area as being as large as Belgium.

He said Nigerians sometimes underestimated the size of the terrain involved in military operations, creating the impression that troops could easily enter the forest, locate terrorists and rescue victims.

According to Musa, security agencies have continued to rescue abducted Nigerians, but the process can take considerable time because terrorists may already have disappeared into remote forest areas before authorities receive information about an abduction.

He explained that security forces sometimes rely on strategies that restrict terrorists’ movement and cut off access to essential supplies rather than immediately launching direct attacks that could endanger hostages.

Musa said troops could isolate terrorists by blocking their routes and denying them access to food, water, fuel and other supplies. Under pressure, he explained, some terrorists abandon their captives and flee, creating an opportunity for security forces to rescue the victims.

He cited a recent operation in Kwara State as an example of how restricting the movement of abductors helped security forces rescue victims.

The minister also said ransom payments could provide intelligence for tracing criminal networks, adding that relevant authorities were monitoring financial transactions associated with suspected criminal activities.

Musa further warned state governors against distributing motorcycles as palliatives without adequate safeguards, saying some could eventually fall into the hands of terrorists and increase their mobility.

However, the minister’s comparison of Sambisa Forest with Belgium requires geographical context. The officially designated Sambisa Game Reserve is commonly cited at about 518 square kilometres, considerably smaller than Belgium, which covers about 30,690 square kilometres.

The much larger figure sometimes associated with Sambisa refers to a broader geographical and operational area. Previous Nigerian reports have used estimates of about 60,000 square kilometres for this wider area, which would indeed be larger than Belgium.

Musa’s comments therefore highlight the scale of the wider terrain in which terrorists operate, rather than establishing a precise measurement of the formally designated forest.

The minister maintained that security forces were making sustained efforts to rescue victims and disrupt terrorist networks despite the difficult operating environment.