Tinubu Orders Real Time Aerial Cordon of Forests in Kwara, Kebbi, Niger after Surge in Kidnappings

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has issued a sweeping directive for a comprehensive security cordon and constant aerial monitoring over the dense forest regions of Kwara State, with the same order extended to strategic forest corridors in both Kebbi and Niger States.

The move is a direct response to a recent escalation in abductions, militia attacks, and violent criminal incursions that have unsettled communities across the country.

The order mandates the Nigerian Air Force to intensify reconnaissance efforts, expand deep-penetration surveillance into forest interiors, and maintain uninterrupted aerial patrols around the clock.

Aviation units are to maintain constant visual and signal connectivity with security formations on the ground, enabling rapid response operations and coordinated interception of hostile movements.

Presidential aides emphasized that this initiative is designed to choke off the escape routes of criminal gangs who operate from hidden camps within vast woodland areas.

By integrating real-time aerial intelligence with ground troop activity, authorities expect faster identification of hideouts and an increased ability to rescue abducted victims safely.

Local populations within the affected regions are being pressed to remain observant and to promptly share credible information about unfamiliar movements, suspicious gatherings, or unusual logistics activities.

Officials stressed that civilian vigilance is a crucial component of this renewed counter-kidnapping strategy.

The decision comes amid several disturbing incidents that have stoked public anxiety and prompted calls for decisive governmental intervention.

Families of kidnapped victims, community leaders, and civil society groups have repeatedly demanded more assertive action to dismantle the networks responsible for mass abductions and rural terror.

Security experts have generally welcomed the stepped-up aerial operation, noting that persistent airborne surveillance can significantly hamper armed groups’ mobility and reduce their ability to regroup.

However, they also caution that the success of the mission will depend heavily on collaborative intelligence sharing, patience in tracking patterns of movement, and strict adherence to safety protocols to avoid harm to civilians.

The presidency has assured the public that ongoing operations will be sustained and updated as necessary, reaffirming the commitment of the federal government to restoring safety in affected regions and bringing perpetrators to justice.