Military vows to sustain offensive against terrorists in Kwara, Niger

The Chief of Defence Staff, Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede, has pledged a “sustained military offensive against terrorists and criminal networks” in Kwara and Niger States with the formal launch of Operation Savannah Shield. The ceremony took place at Sobi Barracks, headquarters of the multiagency operation approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu following the recent deadly terrorist […]

The Chief of Defence Staff, Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede, has pledged a “sustained military offensive against terrorists and criminal networks” in Kwara and Niger States with the formal launch of Operation Savannah Shield.

The ceremony took place at Sobi Barracks, headquarters of the multiagency operation approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu following the recent deadly terrorist attack in Kaiama and parts of neighbouring Niger State.

The flag off was conducted by Governor AbdulRazaq alongside the Chief of Defence Staff, Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede, and the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, on Thursday.

Daily Trust reports that the deployment featured over 30 open-back pickup trucks with mounted guns including Armed Personnel Carriers.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony at Sobi Barracks in Ilorin, General Oluyede said the operation is a decisive response to escalating insecurity in North Central Nigeria.

According to him, cross border infiltration and collaboration between terrorist elements operating in the North West and across the Sahel have undermined public confidence and heightened insecurity.

He explained that Operation Savannah Shield is a proactive and coordinated response designed to secure the entirety of Kwara and contiguous parts of Niger State.

The Joint Task Force, he said, has a clear mandate to secure lives and property, neutralize terrorist and criminal elements, dismantle kidnapping networks, and restore law and order within the operational area.

The CDS emphasized that the operation will be intelligence driven and community focused, with firm execution backed by synergy among the Armed Forces, the Nigeria Police Force, and other security agencies.

Special attention, he added, will be directed at forested and difficult terrains, particularly around the Kainji Lake National Park area, which he said have been exploited as transit and staging grounds by criminal groups.

Assuring residents of sustained military presence, Oluyede said the operation is not a temporary exercise but a structured and enduring campaign.

“We shall combine kinetic and non kinetic measures through robust patrols, targeted operations, strategic communication, and community engagement to deny criminals freedom of action and rebuild public trust,” he stated.

He called on traditional rulers, youth leaders, religious leaders, and other stakeholders to provide credible information and support, stressing that security is a shared responsibility.

He said ”intelligence reports indicate movements of terrorist elements from the Sahel region into the area, particularly around the Kainji Lake axis”.

The action, he noted, has been “compounded by criminal networks exploiting porous corridors from Kebbi through Borgu and other forested routes”.

Oluyede cited recent kidnappings and attacks on communities in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State, which claimed dozens of lives and resulted in multiple abductions.

He described these incidents, coupled with cross-border infiltration and collaboration among terrorist groups, as threats that have undermined public confidence and regional stability.

According to the CDS, Operation Savannah Shield will cover the entirety of Kwara State and contiguous parts of Niger State.

The operation, he said, will be intelligence-driven, community-focused, and firm in execution, combining kinetic and non-kinetic measures including patrols among others.

He said special attention will be given to forested and hard-to-reach terrains, particularly around Kainji Lake National Park, often exploited as staging grounds by criminals.

He thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving the operation and commended the Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, for his support and collaboration with security agencies in the state.

Governor AbdulRazaq described the flag-off as a major relief to residents, particularly those in areas affected by banditry and terrorism.

“Let me first of all thank the Commander-in-Chief, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for the deployment of Operation Savannah Shield, which will cover the entire Kwara State and parts of Niger State. This is a great relief,” he said.

The governor acknowledged that while security agencies have made significant progress in stabilizing Kwara South, Kwara North remains a greater challenge, making the joint operation necessary.

“One is really impressed at the short time this deployment has taken place. We are truly relieved, and people will sleep better now,” AbdulRazaq said.

He also highlighted the broader implications of insecurity, warning that it threatens food production in the affected farming belts.

“These challenges go beyond national security. The vast area covered by this operation command is our farming belt, and farmers have been challenged by ongoing disturbances. But you have brought relief to us, and we truly appreciate it,” he added.

The governor pledged the support of the state government and local communities to ensure the success of Operation Savannah Shield and restore peace and stability to the region.