Forest Routes, Porous Borders Fuel Rising Kidnappings Across South-West – Security Sources
Security stakeholders have identified forests and porous border corridors stretching across Oyo, Osun, Ogun and Ekiti states as major infiltration routes being exploited by bandits and kidnappers operating in the South-West.
According to findings by “Saturday PUNCH”, armed groups fleeing military operations in northern parts of the country are reportedly taking advantage of weak surveillance around forest reserves and boundary communities to launch attacks, abduct residents and escape undetected.
Sources including hunters, local security operatives and members of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) alleged that major forest corridors such as the Old Oyo National Park and forests linking Osun and Ekiti states have increasingly become security concerns.
The concerns come amid a rise in kidnapping incidents across parts of the South-West, particularly following the recent abduction of pupils and teachers from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
According to reports, armed men attacked three schools in Esinele, Yamota and Alawusa communities on May 15, killing teachers and abducting dozens of pupils and staff members.
Security sources alleged that the attackers escaped through forest routes connected to the Old Oyo National Park, a vast reserve covering approximately 2,512 square kilometres.
Military authorities recently linked the Oyo school kidnapping incident to members of the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) group who were reportedly displaced from their former strongholds following intensified military operations in other parts of the country.
Speaking on the development, the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams, described the Old Oyo National Park as a significant security challenge.
According to him, the forest has long served as a strategic route for armed groups moving between northern and south-western states.
Adams recalled that members of the OPC, local hunters and vigilantes previously carried out operations within the forest in 2020, leading to the recovery of weapons and a temporary reduction in criminal activities.
However, he expressed concern that criminal groups have allegedly returned to the forest corridors due to weak surveillance and inadequate security coordination.
He also claimed that many rural communities around the affected areas have become increasingly vulnerable to attacks, forcing some residents to abandon their homes.
Security stakeholders further warned that the interconnected nature of forests stretching through parts of Oyo, Kwara, Osun and northern Nigeria provides multiple escape routes for criminal groups involved in kidnapping, cattle rustling and other violent crimes.
The National Secretary of the Professional Hunters Association of Nigeria, Igyem Dalandi, also expressed concern over the spread of insecurity into the South-West.
He noted that what was initially perceived as a northern security challenge had gradually expanded into states previously considered relatively safer.
Dalandi urged authorities to adopt stronger preventive measures and improve surveillance across forest reserves and border communities to curb the growing threat.
Stakeholders have repeatedly called for greater collaboration between government agencies, local hunters, vigilante groups and community leaders to strengthen security across vulnerable areas in the region.
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