President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered a sweeping security operation across the forests of Kwara State in response to a recent surge in kidnappings and terrorist activity in the region.
The directive was revealed on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, in a statement on X.
According to Dare, President Tinubu has tasked the Nigerian Air Force with intensifying air surveillance over remote forested areas believed to be strongholds for criminal elements.
“President Tinubu has mandated a total security cordon over Kwara State’s forests following the alarming rise in kidnappings and terrorist attacks. The Air Force is to maintain 24-hour aerial monitoring and coordinate closely with ground forces to neutralize these threats”, Dare said.
The security directive extends beyond Kwara, covering strategic areas in Kebbi and Niger states, where rescue operations are also anticipated. Communities are being urged to report suspicious movements promptly to support the security forces.
The order comes in the wake of a series of violent incidents, including the recent abduction of 38 churchgoers in Eruku and, most recently, the kidnapping of at least ten residents from Isapa, a neighboring community in Ekiti Local Government Area.
According to eyewitness accounts, the Isapa attack unfolded around 6 p.m. on Monday when 20 to 30 armed assailants entered the settlement with a large herd of cattle, firing indiscriminately. Residents fled for safety as attackers moved through the town, raiding homes and abducting residents, including a pregnant woman, two nursing mothers, and children.
This latest assault marks the third major attack on Ekiti LGA communities in under a month. Three weeks ago, 18 residents were kidnapped in Eruku but later rescued, while last week, 38 churchgoers were abducted during a thanksgiving service in the same community before being released.
The President’s administration has vowed an intensified crackdown on criminal networks, emphasising that coordinated air and ground operations aim to restore security and reassure affected communities across the region.
