Just when pockets of communities across Nigeria dared to breathe a sigh of relief, the grim reality of persistent banditry struck again. Despite ongoing, and reportedly intensified, military operations, criminal elements continue their audacious wave of terror, demonstrating a chilling resilience that defies the nation’s efforts to secure its citizens.
Between Monday night and Tuesday morning, a staggering 20 persons were abducted in Kwara and Kano states, a stark reminder that the fight for security is far from over. This fresh wave of terror casts a long shadow over recent positive developments that had offered a glimmer of hope.
A Moment of Relief, Quickly Overshadowed
Barely 24 hours prior, 38 worshippers abducted from the Christ Apostolic Church, Oke-Isegun, Eruku, Ikere, Kwara State, on November 18, had regained their freedom. Their release on Sunday, following a “non-kinetic operation” involving the Department of State Services and the military, was met with collective relief. Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga was quick to dismiss claims of ransom payment, stressing that the government simply “negotiated” with the bandits.
Adding to this brief respite, 24 schoolgirls from Government Girls’ Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, in Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State, also regained their freedom on Tuesday, a week after their abduction. Their release was attributed to intensified security operations and high-level federal intervention.
These successful rescue operations, however, are now juxtaposed with the immediate resumption of hostilities by the bandits, highlighting the profound challenge Nigeria faces.
The Latest Horror: Isapa, Kwara State
The latest and most harrowing incident unfolded in Isapa community, just a few kilometres from Eruku, Kwara State. Around 6:00 p.m. on Monday, approximately 30 bandits, accompanied by a large herd of cattle, stormed the quiet agrarian settlement. They shot indiscriminately, sending residents fleeing in panic.
The Kwara State Police Public Relations Officer, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, confirmed the abduction of 10 persons. However, a distraught community leader, speaking anonymously to The PUNCH, claimed 11 persons were seized, including seven members of a single family. The victims included deeply vulnerable individuals: a pregnant woman, two nursing mothers, and several children, some as young as five and six years old.
“This is the worst attack we have seen in recent times. Seven members of the same family were taken. People are terrified. We don’t even know what to expect next,” the community leader lamented, his words echoing the profound fear gripping the community. “People are now living in fear. This is too much. Eleven people just disappeared into the bush. We don’t know what tomorrow holds.”
Eyewitness accounts and physical evidence painted a picture of intense violence, with bullet holes pockmarking homes and spent AK-47 shells littering the ground.
Presidential Directive: A Total Security Cordon
Worried by this brazen assault, President Bola Tinubu has ordered a total security cordon over the forests in Kwara State. Presidential aide, Sunday Dare, disclosed on X.com that the President directed the Nigerian Air Force to expand its surveillance to the forests of Kebbi and Niger states, areas believed to be strongholds for these criminal gangs.
“Tinubu directed the Air Force to expand its air surveillance across the innermost parts of the forest in Kwara State, where it is believed the terrorists are hiding. They are to maintain 24-hour surveillance and link up with the booths on the ground,” Dare tweeted. He also urged communities to provide timely information to aid security forces.
The Enduring Challenge: Vast Forests, Elusive Enemies
Despite the deployment of federal security reinforcements after the Eruku church kidnapping, a highly placed security official admitted to The PUNCH that the sheer vastness of the forests and the multitude of settlements make comprehensive surveillance exceedingly difficult. “Security agencies from Abuja are still around that axis, but you know that forest is vast. There are many villages around there, and it’s hard to be everywhere at the same time,” he stated, acknowledging the formidable terrain bandits exploit.
The police have confirmed active operations, with patrol teams and tactical units deployed to comb the areas surrounding Isapa, Eruku, and other vulnerable villages.
The cycle of abduction, distress, and calls for intervention continues. While the government’s efforts to negotiate releases and intensify operations are notable, the bandits’ ability to strike at will, even after high-profile interventions, underscores the urgent need for a more comprehensive, sustainable, and decisive strategy to reclaim Nigeria’s rural communities from the grip of terror. The lives and livelihoods of countless Nigerians depend on it.
