FG Launches ‘Operation Savannah Shield’ After 75 Killed in Kwara Terror Attack
by Momodu Favour
The Federal Government has launched a major security offensive across Nigeria’s North Central region following a deadly terrorist attack that claimed the lives of about 75 villagers in Kwara State.
The new operation, code-named Operation Savannah Shield, is aimed at flushing out armed groups responsible for the killings and restoring confidence in affected communities.
The attack, which occurred in remote settlements in Kwara, left dozens dead and several others injured, with properties reportedly destroyed.
Survivors said gunmen stormed the communities in large numbers, shooting indiscriminately and setting houses ablaze, forcing residents to flee into nearby bushes for safety.
In response, the Federal Government ordered the immediate deployment of additional troops, police tactical units and national forest guards to reinforce security in vulnerable areas across the North Central corridor.
Security sources said the operation would focus on coordinated ground patrols, aerial surveillance and intelligence-driven raids on suspected hideouts.
Officials disclosed that Operation Savannah Shield would integrate the efforts of the Nigerian Armed Forces, the Nigeria Police Force, local vigilante groups and forest guards to strengthen rapid-response capacity and prevent further attacks.
The government also announced enhanced intelligence gathering, including closer collaboration with local communities to track suspicious movements and dismantle criminal networks operating within forested areas spanning parts of Kwara and neighbouring states.
A senior security official said the operation would not be limited to Kwara State but would extend to other flashpoints in the North Central region where armed groups have been linked to kidnappings, banditry and attacks on rural settlements.
Community leaders in the affected areas have called for sustained military presence, noting that previous deployments were often short-lived, allowing attackers to regroup and strike again.
The latest assault has sparked fresh concerns over the security situation in the North Central region, with civil society groups urging authorities to prioritise early warning systems and improved coordination among security agencies.
Authorities have assured residents that those behind the killings will be tracked down and brought to justice, stressing that Operation Savannah Shield marks a renewed commitment to ending the cycle of violence in vulnerable rural communities.
