President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed security agencies to impose a full-scale security cordon on forests across Kwara, Niger, and Kebbi states, following a surge in mass abductions and terrorist attacks in the region.
The directive, announced on Tuesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, mandates the Nigerian Air Force to intensify round-the-clock aerial surveillance over dense forest zones believed to be major hideouts for terrorist groups. The effort is expected to reinforce ongoing ground operations by military and police units.
According to Dare, the President’s order covers strategic forest areas straddling the three states, where multiple abductions occurred in recent days. He added that communities must play a role by providing intelligence on suspicious activities to security forces.
“The President has ordered a 24-hour air surveillance of the innermost forest areas in Kwara, extending to the Kebbi and Niger axis. These operations will complement boots on the ground, with communities urged to supply timely information to aid security efforts,” Dare said.
Wave of Mass Abductions Triggers Federal Response
The heightened security measures follow a series of coordinated attacks by armed groups:
-
More than 300 students and staff were abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Niger State — one of the largest school kidnappings recorded since the Chibok abduction in 2014.
-
25 schoolgirls were seized from the Government Comprehensive Girls Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State.
-
38 worshippers were abducted during a church service in Eruku, Kwara State.
Although about 50 of the abducted individuals from the Niger school managed to escape, over 265 children and teachers remain in captivity.
A Crisis With Deepening Roots
Nigeria continues to grapple with overlapping security threats — from jihadist insurgencies in the northeast to deadly “bandit” networks operating across the northwest and north central regions. These groups routinely conduct raids, kill residents, and carry out mass kidnappings for ransom.
The latest wave of attacks has revived painful memories of the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction, during which 276 girls were taken by Boko Haram. More than 90 of them remain unaccounted for over a decade later.
President Tinubu’s directive signals an escalation of federal action as pressure mounts on the government to curb insecurity and safeguard schools, rural communities, and worship centres.
More security updates are expected as the combined air and ground operations intensify across the affected states.
Comments are closed.