The National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Felix Morka, has explained why security operatives often struggle to track down and arrest bandits across the country.
His comments come at a time when Nigerians are expressing deep concern over the persistent attacks, especially the surge in kidnappings involving schoolchildren, women, and rural residents.
Morka, who spoke during a television interview on Tuesday, stressed that many of the criminals retreat into deep forest areas after carrying out their operations, making the job of the military far more complex than many people assume.
According to him, these forests serve as natural shields for the perpetrators, complicating surveillance and slowing down the response time of troops.
He noted that the public usually does not see the behind-the-scenes work that goes into security operations.
“I am not a law enforcement person but I imagine that when people who commit these crimes withdraw into the tents of the forests, it’s not easy for the army to simply capture them,” he said, adding that the security agencies are engaged in continuous efforts that may not always be immediately visible.
Morka explained that most arrests and rescue operations involve sensitive intelligence processes, and such information is not instantly pushed into public space.
He pointed out that suspects must go through proper identification procedures, interrogation phases, and verification stages before any official briefing can take place.
The Spokesman of the ruling party appealed for patience from citizens, saying that investigations and field operations are time-consuming, especially when dealing with groups that operate across difficult terrains.
He, however, emphasized that security forces have recorded progress in several cases, with some kidnapped victims already reunited with their families.
According to him, President Bola Tinubu has issued strict directives to security agencies to ensure that every kidnapped victim is brought home safely, and this has intensified the pressure on field operatives to achieve results despite the challenges.
Morka reiterated that the government is committed to confronting the insecurity head-on, insisting that the ongoing operations would eventually lead to more breakthroughs.
