President Tinubu Deploys 24-Hour Aerial Surveillance to Combat Kidnapping Crisis
President Bola Tinubu has declared a comprehensive security emergency across three northern states, authorizing round-the-clock aerial surveillance over forest areas witnessing escalating kidnapping activities. The decisive action comes as criminal networks intensify attacks on schools, farms, and places of worship in Kwara, Kebbi, and Niger States.
Through his Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, the President directed the Nigerian Air Force to maintain constant aerial monitoring over dense forest territories where kidnappers have established hideouts. The operation ensures continuous communication and coordination between air assets and ground troops operating in the affected regions.
Wave of Brutal Attacks Across Multiple States
The security directive follows a disturbing pattern of high-casualty incidents that have shocked the nation. In Kebbi State, armed militants stormed a girls' boarding school in Maga on November 17, 2025, abducting 25 students and killing the vice principal. Just days earlier, more than 40 women and children were kidnapped from a local farm in the same area.
Kwara State has experienced particularly severe violence from the terror group Mahmuda, which has concentrated attacks around Kainji Lake. The group seized 38 worshippers as hostages in Eruku village, while in Kemanji, they reportedly killed over 15 vigilante members attempting to protect their community.
According to ACLED data, Kwara recorded 177 kidnapping incidents and at least 207 killings during the first ten months of 2025 alone.
Mass School Abduction Draws International Condemnation
Niger State suffered one of the most devastating attacks on November 21, 2025, when gunmen invaded St. Mary's Catholic School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area. The assailants abducted over 300 students and teachers in a single operation, though 50 students subsequently managed to escape captivity.
The United Nations strongly condemned the mass abduction and criticized the decision to reopen schools despite known security threats in the region. Human Rights Watch joined the condemnation, demanding immediate measures to protect educational institutions and secure the release of remaining hostages.
In a related development, Niger State police reported the successful rescue of 35 kidnapped individuals from forested areas, including 16 women and 19 children, demonstrating the potential effectiveness of coordinated security operations.
Coordinated Response to Regional Security Threat
President Tinubu's security cordon strategy represents a comprehensive approach to tackling cross-state criminal operations. The movement of groups like Mahmuda across Kwara, Niger, and Kebbi suggests they are exploiting ungoverned territories and forest corridors to launch coordinated attacks.
The presidential directive emphasizes community involvement in security efforts, with residents urged to provide timely intelligence about suspicious movements to aid security forces. This collaborative approach between military assets and local communities is considered essential for restoring safety to vulnerable populations.
Security analysts describe the 24-hour aerial surveillance and ground coordination as both urgent and necessary to dismantle kidnapping networks, rescue hostages, and restore public confidence in regions where daily life has been severely disrupted by criminal violence.
