President Muhammadu Buhari says the holding of hostages as human shields by terrorists is the reason why the anti-terror war has been prolonged.
He said, “The bandits are just pushing their luck, but this is only for a while before they are finally crushed. They are using civilians as human shields, thereby making it difficult to confront them directly.”
The President spoke while addressing residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The residents, led by the FCT Minister, Mohammed Musa Bello, were at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, to pay Sallah homage to the President.
Speaking on why caution must be applied in taking out terrorists without collateral damages to the innocent, the President said: “They don’t care about killing their hostages if they come under attack. It’s a delicate situation that requires wisdom, caution, and also patience. Any rescue operation that results in the death of any hostage cannot be deemed a success.
“The government doesn’t want this kind of tragic outcome. It’s a complex situation that demands proper handling. The primary objective of any rescue operation is to free the hostages safely, unharmed, and alive.
“Let me make it clear, however, that defeating the terrorists and bandits requires more than weapons; we also need human intelligence, which is necessary to frustrate terrorist plans.
“The people and community leaders should help our security officials with information about the activities or movements of criminal groups.”
