Tinubu Orders Security Sweep across Northern Forests

The presidency has issued a sweeping directive for security forces to comb deep forest corridors in Kwara, Kebbi and Niger following a surge in kidnappings that has unsettled communities and drawn national concern. Officials in Abuja confirmed that the order, signed off by the President, mandates a continuous aerial presence over the forests, with fighter jets and reconnaissance aircraft expected to maintain watch day and night. Ground units have been instructed to move in synchrony, closing off escape routes long exploited by armed groups. The move follows a series of disturbing incidents, including the abduction of schoolgirls in Kebbi and repeated attacks on travelers and farming settlements. Local authorities say the criminal gangs have taken advantage of the thick, largely ungoverned bush land, carving out camps that have proved difficult to penetrate. In the presidential statement, residents were urged to remain alert and share credible information that could assist security operations. The tone of the message carried a sense of urgency, as though the government was determined to reclaim spaces that had slipped into the shadows. Across the affected states, families remain on edge. There is hope that the intensified operations will finally weaken the networks responsible for the violence, even as the forests continues to hold its own secrets.

| 2025-11-26 07:55:08