Army Deploys Full Brigade to Kwara South to Tackle Rising Insecurity
The Nigerian Army has deployed a full brigade, along with heavy military equipment, to various parts of Kwara South Senatorial District in a major operation aimed at flushing out kidnappers and restoring peace in the region.
Troops have begun patrolling and combing through communities in Oke Ode and Babanla, both located in Ifelodun Local Government Area, as part of the coordinated operation to secure the area.
The military exercise will also extend to Edu and Patigi Local Government Areas, where soldiers are expected to sweep through dense forests reportedly used as hideouts by criminal gangs.
The deployment follows a series of kidnappings and attacks launched from these forested areas, where bandits have abducted residents and demanded ransoms, creating fear among local communities.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq confirmed the development on Wednesday, expressing appreciation to President Bola Tinubu and the military high command for their swift intervention.
The governor disclosed that he met with President Tinubu over the weekend in Jos to discuss the worsening security situation in parts of the state.
He said the President immediately directed the army and other security agencies to take decisive action to dismantle the criminal networks operating within Kwara’s forest belts.
“We are grateful to President Tinubu for his prompt attention and to the Nigerian Army for this renewed effort to ensure the safety of our people. The deployment is a strong message that the government will not allow criminals to hold any part of Kwara hostage,” Governor AbdulRazaq said.
The military operation is expected to last several weeks, with coordinated intelligence support from other security agencies, including the police and the Department of State Services (DSS).
Residents have been urged to cooperate with security operatives by providing credible information that could aid in tracking and neutralising criminal elements across the affected areas.
The latest deployment aligns with the Senate’s recent resolution calling for a permanent military base in Kwara South to serve as a rapid-response hub against rising insecurity in the North Central region.
