The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, has ordered a full-scale military operation to flush out bandits terrorizing Kwara and Niger states. The directive follows a surge in kidnappings, killings, and farm invasions by armed groups displacing villagers.
In a statement, the COAS vowed that troops would “take the fight to the criminals’ hideouts” using aerial surveillance and ground assaults. Security analysts warn that bandits fleeing military pressure in Zamfara and Kaduna may have relocated to these states, escalating the crisis.
Governors of Kwara and Niger have welcomed the intervention, urging communities to cooperate with security forces. “We will not allow these terrorists to destabilize our people,” said Niger State’s governor.
Residents in affected areas reported seeing increased troop movements, raising hopes for restored peace. However, humanitarian groups caution that the operation could trigger mass displacements, calling for preemptive aid measures.
This offensive aligns with the federal government’s pledge to end banditry by 2025. Will it succeed?
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