President Bola Tinubu has directed a full security cordon over forests in Kwara, Kebbi, and Niger States following a recent spike in kidnappings and terrorist attacks, according to Sunday Dare, Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication.
Dare said the President instructed the Nigerian Air Force to intensify aerial surveillance over forested areas suspected to harbor criminals. The operation will run 24 hours a day, with air units coordinating closely with ground forces.
Communities in these regions have been urged to report suspicious activity to assist security agencies in restoring safety.
Recent incidents highlight the severity of the threat.
In Kebbi, gunmen attacked a girls’ boarding school in Maga on 17 November, abducting 25 students and killing the vice principal. Earlier, over 40 women and children were kidnapped from a local farm.
In Kwara, the group Mahmuda has carried out repeated attacks around Kainji Lake, targeting villages and churches.
In Eruku village, 38 worshippers were taken hostage, and in Kemanji, more than 15 vigilantes were reportedly killed.
ACLED data indicates 177 kidnapping incidents and at least 207 killings in Kwara during the first ten months of 2025.
In Niger State, on 21 November, gunmen abducted over 300 students and teachers from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Agwara LGA, though 50 students later escaped.
The UN condemned the attack and criticised the reopening of schools amid ongoing security risks, while Human Rights Watch called for urgent protective measures.
Niger State police also reported rescuing 35 kidnapped individuals, including 16 women and 19 children, from forested areas.
These high-profile attacks underscore the vulnerability of schools, farms, and places of worship.
Analysts suggest that groups like Mahmuda are exploiting ungoverned areas across Kwara, Niger, and Kebbi.
President Tinubu’s 24-hour aerial surveillance and coordinated ground operations aim to dismantle these networks, rescue hostages, and restore public confidence in affected communities.
