A retired Nigerian military commander has revealed that armed bandits engage in mass kidnappings primarily to use civilians as human shields against advancing military forces, in addition to holding them as sex slaves and negotiation leverage.
Major General Anthony Atolagbe (retired), former Field Commander of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), made the disclosure during a recent interview on Arise Television’s ‘Prime Time’ programme. He was speaking on the pervasive insecurity plaguing Nigeria’s northwest and other regions.
General Atolagbe explained that bandits follow a distinct operational pattern. “The bandits have a pattern of taking people into their enclave, just to use them as sex slaves, but also as shields for negotiation,” he stated. He noted that when military operations dislodge these groups from their hideouts, the abductors are forced to flee, often losing control of their captives. “When they are dislodged… they try to move to other locations where they think they will be safe. And the next thing is to start looking for who they can also grab and bring into their new locations,” he added.
A critical aspect of this strategy, according to the general, is the preemptive use of hostages as protective barriers. “It is also another strategy by those that are expecting the arrival of the military… to come and chase them out by using some of these people as human shields when the military approach their location,” he said.
He cited instances from Sambisa Forest, a known former stronghold of extremist groups, where over 100 abducted individuals managed to escape following intense military pressure. “The first thing that happened was that over 100 of them escaped, based on the heat that was brought on the adversary,” he recalled.
This tactic of employing human shields complicates military rescue operations and significantly increases the risk to civilian lives. It underscores the brutal calculus employed by non-state armed groups in Nigeria, where kidnapping for ransom and leverage has become a lucrative and defining feature of the conflict.
The analysis points to a grim reality: kidnappings are not merely criminal enterprises for financial gain but a strategic tool to deter, delay, and defend against security offensives. This revelation highlights the severe threats faced by civilians and the complex challenges confronting Nigerian security forces as they attempt to dismantle these criminal networks while safeguarding hostages.
The continued use of such tactics demands integrated counter-insurgency strategies that prioritize the protection of civilians and innovative approaches to rescue operations, amid a security landscape where armed groups constantly adapt their methods.
