Rescuing Takoradi Girls is a difficult mission –Security Expert
Attempts by Ghanaian security officials to rescue the three kidnapped Takoradi girls will be a difficult mission to accomplish, Security Expert says.
This is due to the fact that the girls; Ruth Quayson, Priscilla Blessing Bentum and Priscilla Koranchie are believed to be outside the country’s jurisdiction hence making the rescue mission quite complex and difficult for the security agencies.
Speaking exclusively to The Ghana Report (TGR), Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the Africa Centre for Security and Intelligence Studies (ACSIS), Paul Coonley Boateng, observed it is quite different conducting operations in one’s home country than a foreign land as the security agencies are familiar with the terrain and can operate freely with methods that are necessary to unravel the crime in the former than the latter.
The three kidnapped girls, we are told, are believed to be outside the country’s jurisdiction and this the Security Expert cautions poor bilateral relations coupled with the fear of espionage could mar the rescue efforts by the government.
Mr. Boateng said, “You need a strong collaboration with the host country’s security agencies especially the Intelligence Agencies as this is necessary to establish and conduct a liaison with the local law enforcement, and sometimes with local government and community heads such as chiefs, Imams, youth leaders among several others in the area of operation.
There is also the fear of espionage. Some countries can take advantage to gather intelligence on a foreign country or government in power for their future operations when given the opportunity so there is always trust issues.”
The Security Expert explained further that differing priority as well as cultural and religious differences could affect the rescue mission.
“The arrest of such criminals may not be a priority of the host country. They can turn down Ghana’s request to conduct operations in their country or decide not to cooperate with you. There are cultural practices by some tribes who do not simply report criminals to the security agencies as they see that as a betrayal of their own,” he said.
Besides, the factors enumerated earlier, the cost involved in conducting a rescue mission abroad is quite high as compared to an internal one as well as the difficulty in getting trusted security agents to work with their Ghanaian counterparts outside, according to the expert could affect the operation as well if not handled properly.
Mr. Boateng however expressed optimism in the rescue efforts so far and urged the public to remain hopeful and have confidence in the security agencies that they will be able to rescue the missing Takoradi girls.
The three Takoradi girls were kidnapped between August 2018 and January 2019.
The main suspect in the kidnapping case, 28-year old Nigerian, Sam Udoetuk Wills, is currently before a court after he escaped jail in December 2018 following his first arrest.
A second suspect, 29-year old Nigerian, John Oji, was also arrested and placed before the Sekondi-Takoradi High Court II on Wednesday, June 12, for the offence of conspiracy to kidnap and kidnapping.
John Oji has been the name on the lips of the first suspect, Wills, who has described him as the key to unraveling the kidnapping that has gained sustained national attention.
The families of the trio have been desperate for news on the whereabouts of their girls since Priscilla Bentum was kidnapped in August 2018.