Security operatives arrested kidnappers’ family members to secure Victims’ release – Ex-DSS operative reveals
By Binta Haroon
Dr. Seyi Adetayo, former officer of the Department of State Services (DSS), has revealed how security operatives secured the release of abducted pupils and teachers in Oyo State after 56 days in captivity without paying ransom or exchanging prisoners.
Speaking during an interview on TVC News on Friday, Adetayo said intelligence gathering was central to the operation, enabling security agencies to locate the kidnappers and mount sustained pressure that eventually forced them to free their captives.
According to him, the intelligence-led operation involved identifying the kidnappers’ mothers, wives, children and other close associates as part of efforts to weaken the criminal network.
He disclosed that security operatives arrested the relatives, recorded videos of them and sent the footage to the abductors as part of the strategy that ultimately led to the victims’ release.
“They identified the kidnappers’ mothers, wives, children and close associates.
They arrested them, recorded videos, and sent them to the abductors,” Adetayo said.
He explained that security forces relied heavily on intelligence to dismantle the kidnappers’ support network, cutting off their supply lines and escape routes while combining coercive measures with negotiations.
Adetayo said the strategy eventually resulted in the safe rescue of the abducted pupils and teachers after 56 days in captivity without the payment of ransom or the exchange of prisoners.
