Heavy military presence as troops, armoured vehicles storm Kwara forests.
Kwara State has become the latest theatre of a major military operation as the Nigerian Army deploys a full brigade — complete with heavy equipment and tactical units — to flush out kidnappers from the forests of Ifelodun, Edu, and Patigi Local Government Areas.
Massive convoys of troops and armoured vehicles were seen moving through Oke Ode, Babanla, and other border communities on Wednesday, marking the start of a full-scale operation aimed at dismantling criminal hideouts that have plagued the region with kidnappings and bandit attacks in recent months.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who recently met with President Bola Tinubu in Jos to discuss the rising insecurity, expressed deep appreciation to the President for approving the deployment and backing the state’s fight against criminality.
“We will not spare any resources in supporting the military, DSS, police, and other agencies working to secure lives and property,” the governor said in a statement.
“This operation under Operation Fasan Yanma will help eliminate all forms of threats in Kwara South and North. I thank the President, the military high command, and all security agencies for their efforts so far. We must double down to protect our people.”
AbdulRazaq also applauded the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the Chief of Army Staff, the General Officer Commanding 2 Division, and Brigade Commander A.A. Babatunde for their swift response and coordination.
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The large-scale deployment signals one of the most aggressive anti-kidnapping operations ever undertaken in Kwara State. Residents in affected areas have been urged to cooperate with security personnel and provide credible intelligence as the army intensifies its push to reclaim the forests and restore peace across the region.
