Forest Routes Fueling Kidnappings in South-West Nigeria

The South-West region of Nigeria is facing a surge in kidnappings, attributed to bandits utilizing forest routes for infiltration. The Old Oyo National Park, covering 2,512 square kilometers, has become a major corridor for criminal activities, facilitating attacks and abductions across Oyo, Osun, Ogun, and Ekiti states.

Recent incidents include a bandit attack on May 15, resulting in the death of a teacher and the abduction of 47 pupils in Oyo State. Gani Adam of the Oodua People's Congress noted that the park poses a serious security threat, as it shares proximity with Niger State, allowing armed groups to operate freely.

Despite previous efforts in 2020 to dislodge bandits from the area, they have returned, exploiting weak surveillance and coordination among security agencies. Maj Gen Michael Onoja, Director of Defence Media Operations, confirmed that the activities of these groups have intensified due to military operations across the country.