President Bola Tinubu has ordered a total security cordon of forests in Kwara State, directing the Nigerian Air Force to begin 24-hour aerial surveillance. This decisive action follows a fresh attack on Monday in which armed bandits kidnapped at least 11 people from the Isapa community . The directive was announced by the President's Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare . He stated the Air Force is to expand its watch across the innermost parts of the forests where terrorists are suspected to be hiding. The forces in the air will also link up with troops on the ground . The same security order applies to the troubled states of Kebbi and Niger, where many kidnap victims are expected to be rescued .
The latest incident struck the quiet agrarian settlement of Isapa in Ekiti Local Government Area around 6 p.m. on Monday . An estimated 20 to 30 armed men stormed the town with a large herd of cattle, shooting indiscriminately and forcing residents to flee for safety . The attackers moved through several parts of the town, firing shots into homes and leaving bullet holes in walls and doors . When the chaos ended, 11 people were missing, taken into the bush by the gunmen . A community leader, speaking under condition of anonymity, provided a grim list of the abducted. It includes a pregnant woman, two nursing mothers, and several young children. In a devastating blow, seven of those taken are all from the same family . The Kwara State Police Commissioner, Adekimi Ojo, confirmed the attack and said he was headed to the scene .
This attack is the third major assault on communities in Ekiti Local Government Area in less than a month . Just days earlier, 38 worshippers were abducted from the Christ Apostolic Church in the nearby community of Eruku during a thanksgiving service . They were later released, though it remains unclear if a ransom was paid after the bandits initially demanded N100 million for each person . Three weeks before that church attack, 18 residents were also kidnapped in Eruku but were later rescued . These repeated attacks have created a state of high tension in the area. Local reports say people are now living in fear, with some religious centers scaling back evening activities .
The new security strategy for Kwara State focuses on the vast forest areas that have served as hiding places and escape routes for the attackers. The Nigerian Air Force has recent experience with such operations in the region. In late September, the NAF launched coordinated airstrikes in several locations within Kwara, including Kakihun, Oke-Ode, and Babanla . Those operations combined targeted reconnaissance with precision strikes aimed at disrupting armed groups . The presidential directive calls for a sustained and expanded version of this aerial pressure. Security experts often note the critical need for such air support. Aerial intelligence and cover are seen as essential for successful military operations in difficult terrains, allowing ground forces to operate more safely and effectively .
The crisis in Kwara is part of a wider wave of violence affecting north-central and northwestern Nigeria. The president's order explicitly includes the "Kebbi and Niger states axis," where mass abductions have also occurred . In Niger State, 315 students were kidnapped from St. Mary's Private Primary and Secondary School just last Friday, though 51 of them have since escaped from captivity . In Kebbi State, attackers raided a government girls' secondary school, kidnapping 25 school girls from their hostel . These incidents show a troubling pattern of coordinated attacks on soft targets, stretching the country's security resources. The federal government's response now involves a broader, multi-state aerial and ground campaign to push back against the armed groups.
As security forces work to rescue the Isapa victims, the community remains in a state of panic. A highly placed security official acknowledged the challenges, noting that the forest linking Isapa, Eruku, and other villages is vast . Even with federal security reinforcements sent after the church kidnapping, the many settlements and thick terrain make complete surveillance difficult . The government is urging communities to help by providing timely information about any strange movements to aid the security forces . The success of this new security cordon will be a critical test for the government's strategy to bring stability to the region and protect its citizens from further harm.