At least 12 members of a local forest guard unit were killed when armed bandits stormed Oke-Ode town in Kwara state, north-central Nigeria. The attackers opened fire on a local government building before dawn, leaving the community reeling and security forces scrambling to respond.

Attack and Immediate Response

Witnesses reported that the gunmen arrived on motorcycles around 6 a.m., shooting indiscriminately and targeting security outposts. Among the dead was the town’s traditional chief. Police confirmed four others were injured and rushed to hospital. Kwara’s Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq condemned the killings and requested urgent military reinforcements. (Premium Times NG)

Banditry as a National Security Crisis

Nigeria has seen a surge in rural banditry since 2018, especially in Zamfara, Kaduna, Niger and Kwara states. Analysts say the phenomenon—driven by poverty, arms trafficking and climate pressures—now rivals the Boko Haram insurgency in scale. The BBC noted that gangs frequently conduct mass kidnappings, targeting schools and transport routes to demand ransom.

Federal and Military Measures

The Nigerian army announced new deployments to Kwara and pledged to hunt down the perpetrators. Security analysts, however, warn that military crackdowns often push violence into neighboring states without addressing root causes. Human rights monitors have also cautioned that civilians risk further displacement if operations escalate.