President Bola Tinubu has ordered a comprehensive security lockdown of forests across Kwara State, directing security forces to establish a “total cordon” and intensify air and ground operations in response to the recent wave of kidnappings and terrorist activities. The directive, announced on Tuesday by Presidential Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication Sunday Dare, follows the high-profile abduction and rescue of 38 churchgoers in Eruku and the reported kidnapping of at least 10 residents in Isapa, Ekiti Local Government Area.
“President Tinubu has ordered total security cordon over the forests in Kwara State following recent kidnappings and terrorist activities,” Dare stated. The President specifically instructed the Nigerian Air Force to expand its surveillance “across the innermost parts of the forests in Kwara State where it is believed terrorists are hiding.” Security teams are expected to maintain a 24-hour watch, with boots on the ground working closely with aerial units to ensure no safe haven for criminal groups.
The presidential directive also extends to Kebbi and Niger States, regions plagued by a surge in abductions and violence. According to Sunday Dare, “Communities are also urged to provide timely information about strange movements and activities to aid the work of the security forces.” The order comes amid national concern over ungoverned spaces along vital state corridors, where informants reportedly aid criminal infiltration.
Security analysts regard Tinubu’s sweeping order as the strongest federal response yet to escalating rural insecurity, signalling a new era of persistent military operations. Recent Senate motions have highlighted that over 142 kidnappings and 70 killings have terrorised the Kwara-Kogi-Ekiti axis within the last year, forcing more than 25 communities to flee, schools to shut down, and farmlands to be abandoned.
The administration’s renewed strategy combines air surveillance, troop deployment, grassroots intelligence gathering, and tighter control over forested enclaves believed to house armed groups. As communities brace for the ongoing operation, federal authorities urge public collaboration to support swift action and restore confidence in security across Nigeria’s vulnerable regions.
