By Odesola JF., PhD
Sometimes, in the midst of all our complaints about Nigeria, there are moments when we should stop, take a breath and simply say thank you.
Thank you to the men and women who are standing between innocent Nigerians and those who want to destroy their peace.
The recent operation by troops of the Joint Task Force North-West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, in Sokoto State is one of those moments that deserves to be recognised.
According to the military, troops operating in Wurno, Sabon Birni, Isa and Illela Local Government Areas rescued 23 kidnapped civilians, arrested four suspected members of the Lakurawa terrorist group, disrupted attempted terrorist activities and recovered six rustled cattle.
Twenty-three people rescued.
That may sound like just a number in a military statement, but it is not.
Twenty-three is 23 human beings.
Twenty-three sons and daughters.
Twenty-three fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters or friends.
Twenty-three people whose families may have spent sleepless nights wondering whether they would ever see their loved ones again.
For the families of those 23 Nigerians, this was not simply a military operation.
It was a miracle of relief.
It was a phone call they had been praying to receive.
It was the possibility of hearing a familiar voice again.
It was the opening of a door that had seemed firmly shut.
And for that, Nigeria should pause and appreciate those who made the rescue possible.
THESE ARE PEOPLE, NOT STATISTICS
It is easy to read security reports and become accustomed to numbers.
Six rescued here.
Seventeen rescued there.
Four suspects arrested.
Six cattle recovered.
But behind every number is a human story.
Somewhere, a mother may have been waiting for her son.
Somewhere, a child may have been asking, “When is Daddy coming home?”
Somewhere, a husband may finally be reunited with his wife.
Somewhere, a family that had almost lost hope may now be preparing to welcome one of their own home.
This is why the rescue of these Nigerians matters.
Security is ultimately about people.
It is about whether a farmer can return home after working on his farm.
It is about whether a trader can travel without fear.
It is about whether children can sleep peacefully in their homes.
It is about whether families can go about their daily lives without constantly looking over their shoulders.
That is the Nigeria we all want.
THE COURAGE TO RESPOND
The military said terrorists invaded Sabon Gari in Wurno Local Government Area and opened sporadic fire, forcing residents to flee.
Troops responded, engaged the attackers and forced them to retreat.
In the process, six kidnapped victims were rescued.
One civilian who sustained a gunshot injury was also evacuated for medical treatment.
Think about that for a moment.
When people were running away from danger, these soldiers were moving towards it.
That does not mean every military operation will go perfectly, nor does it remove the need for accountability and professionalism. But when soldiers put themselves in harm’s way to rescue civilians, we should have the honesty to recognise their courage.
These men and women also have families.
They have wives and husbands.
They have children waiting for them.
They have parents who worry about them.
When they leave their homes for dangerous operations, they do not know exactly what awaits them.
Yet they go.
That courage deserves our appreciation.
THE POWER OF INTELLIGENCE
Another important lesson from the Sokoto operation is the value of intelligence.
The military reported receiving information about a planned terrorist movement along the Sabon Birni-Takatsaba Road around Chabe Biyu.
Rather than waiting for the terrorists to strike, troops reportedly positioned themselves along the suspected route and engaged them when they were sighted.
The terrorists fled.
This is the kind of proactive approach that Nigeria needs more of.
We cannot always wait until terrorists attack a village before security forces respond.
We must increasingly find them before they reach their targets.
We must understand their movements.
We must disrupt their plans.
We must deny them the opportunity to harm innocent Nigerians.
And this requires good intelligence.
Technology is important, but technology alone cannot solve insecurity.
People matter.
The farmer who notices strange movements.
The driver who sees suspicious people travelling through a remote route.
The community leader who receives credible information.
The traditional ruler who knows what is happening in his community.
The security officer who listens carefully to local intelligence.
All these pieces can come together to save lives.
The Sokoto operation is another reminder that good intelligence, when acted upon quickly and professionally, can make the difference between an attack and a rescue.
SEVENTEEN MORE PEOPLE COME HOME
The story in Isa Local Government Area is particularly touching.
The military said troops responded to a distress call about terrorist activities along the Isa-Kwanar Isa-Shinkafi Road.
After an exchange of fire, the terrorists withdrew.
Troops then searched the area and rescued 17 kidnapped civilians.
Seventeen more people.
Seventeen more families with reason to rejoice.
Imagine the emotion of that reunion.
Imagine the tears.
Imagine the hugs.
Imagine the prayers of thanksgiving.
For the rescued victims themselves, the experience may have been terrifying and traumatic. One reportedly sustained a fracture and was immediately evacuated to General Hospital, Isa, for treatment.
This reminds us that rescuing a victim is only the beginning.
Those who survive kidnapping and terrorism need medical care where necessary, emotional support, protection and assistance as they return to their families and communities.
They should not be forgotten once the headlines disappear.
FOUR ARRESTS, SIX CATTLE RECOVERED
In Illela Local Government Area, troops reportedly acted on intelligence about suspected terrorists allegedly moving rustled cattle from Sarma Village towards Illela.
A snap checkpoint was established.
Four suspected members of the Lakurawa group were arrested, while six cows were recovered.
The suspects remain in military custody for investigation, while efforts continue to apprehend others who reportedly escaped.
This is important because insecurity is often more complicated than what we see on the surface.
Kidnapping, terrorism, cattle rustling and other criminal activities can intersect and sustain wider criminal networks.
Disrupting these movements therefore matters.
Every arrest made through lawful investigation, every criminal operation disrupted and every stolen animal recovered can weaken the ability of criminal networks to operate.
LET US GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE
Nigeria has every right to demand more from its security agencies.
We must continue to demand professionalism.
We must demand accountability.
We must demand adequate equipment, intelligence, welfare and training for our security personnel.
We must demand that citizens receive the protection they deserve.
But demanding more does not mean refusing to acknowledge success.
When our soldiers do something commendable, let us say so.
When they rescue Nigerians, let us thank them.
When they prevent an attack, let us acknowledge it.
When they put their lives at risk to save others, let us remember them in our prayers.
Criticism has its place.
But appreciation has its place too.
And today, the Nigerian soldier deserves appreciation.
WE NEED MORE OF THIS
The lesson from Sokoto should not end with congratulations.
It should become a call for more.
More intelligence-led operations.
More rapid responses to distress calls.
More cooperation between communities and security agencies.
More coordination among security services.
More protection for vulnerable communities.
More efforts to rescue kidnapped Nigerians.
More disruption of terrorist logistics.
More arrests based on credible intelligence and followed by due process.
More resources for the men and women who are actually on the frontline.
Nigeria cannot afford to become comfortable with insecurity.
We cannot normalise kidnapping.
We cannot accept terrorism as an inevitable part of Nigerian life.
We cannot tell families that they should simply learn to live with fear.
Every Nigerian has the right to live in peace.
COMMUNITIES ALSO HAVE A ROLE
At the same time, security is not the responsibility of soldiers alone.
Communities have an important role to play.
Citizens should never attempt to confront armed terrorists themselves. That is the job of trained security personnel.
But citizens can provide information.
If something genuinely suspicious is happening, the appropriate security authorities should be informed promptly.
Traditional rulers, religious leaders, community leaders and responsible citizens can help build the bridge between communities and security agencies.
Trust is important.
Security agencies need information from communities.
Communities need protection from security agencies.
When both sides work together responsibly, lives can be saved.
LET US NOT LOSE HOPE
There is no pretending that Nigeria’s security challenges are over.
They are not.
There are still communities living with fear.
There are still families waiting for missing relatives.
There are still criminals and terrorists who must be confronted.
There is still much work to be done.
But we should not allow the magnitude of the problem to make us blind to the progress that is being made.
The rescue of 23 Nigerians is worth celebrating.
For those 23 people, it is not a small achievement.
For their families, it may be the happiest news they have received in a very long time.
For the troops involved, it is evidence that their efforts can make a real difference.
And for Nigeria, it is a reminder that we must keep fighting for a safer country.
TO OUR TROOPS: THANK YOU
To the officers and soldiers of Operation FANSAN YAMMA who participated in these operations, we salute you.
Thank you for responding.
Thank you for confronting danger.
Thank you for rescuing our fellow citizens.
Thank you for bringing 23 Nigerians closer to the safety of their families.
Thank you for the arrests and recovery of rustled cattle.
And thank you for continuing to serve in difficult circumstances.
To the families of our soldiers, we also say thank you.
Behind every soldier standing on the frontline is a family making sacrifices too.
A wife waiting.
A husband waiting.
Children waiting for Daddy or Mummy to return.
Parents praying for the safe return of their son or daughter.
Their sacrifices must never be forgotten.
NIGERIA NEEDS COURAGE — AND RESULTS
What happened in Sokoto should encourage us.
Not because one successful operation means that the security problem has disappeared, but because it demonstrates what can happen when intelligence, courage, timely response and coordinated action come together.
Nigeria needs more of that.
We need security personnel who are well trained, properly equipped, motivated and adequately supported.
We need communities willing to provide credible information.
We need leaders committed to protecting human life.
And we need a national determination that the lives of ordinary Nigerians matter.
Because they do.
Every Nigerian rescued is someone’s loved one.
Every attack prevented protects a family.
Every community secured gives children another night of peaceful sleep.
Every terrorist movement disrupted gives ordinary people another opportunity to live, work and dream.
So, to the brave men and women who participated in this operation, kudos.
You have given 23 Nigerian families something precious: the joy of seeing their loved ones rescued.
May God protect you as you protect others.
May He give you wisdom, courage and discernment.
May He bring you safely back to your own families after every assignment.
And may the success recorded in Sokoto be followed by many more successful operations across Nigeria.
More rescues. More lives saved. More communities protected. More criminals brought to justice through due process. More intelligence-led operations. More courage. More professionalism. More results.
Nigeria needs it.
Nigerians deserve it.
And to those who continue to stand in the gap for the safety of our people, we say again:
Thank you. We salute your courage. Keep going.
