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Insecurity: Educationists call for mapping of nation’s forests

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Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

Educationists in the country have canvassed for urgent geographical mapping of the nation’s forests, thick bushlands and rugged terrains being used as hideouts by suspected criminals.

Speaking as a guest lecturer at the quadrennial (19th) Kwara State wing of the Nigeria Union Teachers (NUT) Delegates 2026 in Ilorin on Monday, Vice Chancellor of Abdulrasaq Abubakar Toyin University (AATU), Ganmo, Kwara state, said that the move would allow the nation’s schools to be safe for academic learning.

Profeasor Ambali, who decried that criminals have turned forests, bushlands and other rugged terrains to perpetrate their nefarious activities in the country, said that, “We cannot talk about school insecurity without acknowledging the role of geography”.

Themed, “Education Will be Heading to the Brink in the Absence of Safe Schools in Nigeria- What are the Imperatives for Remedying the Monstrous and Anomalous Security Situation”, the lecture said that, “Forests, thick bushlands, and rugged terrains give criminals a distinct advantage.

“These areas provide natural concealment, making it difficult for security agencies to locate and
apprehend offenders.

“They also allow cross-state mobility, so perpetrators can strike in one area and disappear into another before anyone can respond”.

Ambali identified “Forest corridors in Zamfara, Kaduna, Niger, and Kebbi states, saying they are frequently used as operational hideouts.

“Even rural Kwara faces similar challenges near forest reserves, where security coverage is sparse.

“This is why relying solely on police raids is not enough: the environment itself needs development and surveillance

“Also, look at the evidence from Kaduna and Niger states. After some of the kidnappings there,
investigations revealed that attackers consistently retreated into forested zones.

“These are not isolated cases either, similar patterns have been observed in parts of Kwara and across North-Central Nigeria.

“These areas become operational hideouts precisely because the
terrain favours the criminals and security forces are limited in their reach.

“So, what does this mean for security strategies? Simply deploying personnel isn’t enough.
Effective solutions require mapping these terrains, integrating local intelligence, and conducting targeted patrols.

“Understanding the geography isn’t just academic, it’s critical for designing interventions that actually work.”

Also, in his remarks, the State Chairman of the NUT, Comrade Yusuf Wahab Agboola, said the conference was convened to review the union’s activities and discuss key issues affecting teachers and the education sector.

Agboola highlighted several achievements recorded through collaboration with the Kwara State Government, including the payment of long-standing salary arrears, implementation of teachers’ allowances, approval of teachers’ promotions, and regular payment of salaries.

He also noted that the implementation of the national minimum wage and other welfare measures had improved teachers’ conditions of service in the state.

The NUT Chairman further acknowledged the support of the Kwara State Government in improving facilities at the union’s secretariat and strengthening the welfare of teachers.

A major focus of the conference was the growing concern over insecurity and its impact on education across the country. Delegates noted that attacks on schools and rising insecurity pose serious threats to learning and the safety of teachers and students.

Stakeholders, therefore, called for stronger collaboration between government, communities, and security agencies to protect schools and ensure a safe learning environment.

Agboola urged teachers to remain committed to their responsibilities while working collectively to safeguard the future of education.

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Kwara: Security Team Kills Two Bandits, Rescues Two Kidnap Victims

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Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

A security team, comprising operatives of DSS and forest guards, has rescued two victims of abduction in a forest between Oba Isin/Owa Onire area of isin and Ifelodun Local Government Areas of Kwara State.

The rescued victims are 16-year-old Fatima Azeez and Ibrahim Azeez who is five-year old.

The team also eliminated two armed bandits, while others escaped with severe injuries as the security forces stormed their hideouts, according to a report by DSS and local authorities.

The security team also recovered several items from the kidnappers, including one Ak-47 rifle; one single barrel; one fully loaded magazine with nine empty; mini-solar panel; and food items.

The rescue operation is connected to the multi-agency counterterrorism and anti-kidnapping efforts of the government.

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Kwara: Police Launch Investigations Into Killing Of Farmer On Farmland

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Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

The Kwara State Police Command has commenced full-scale investigations into the killing of a farmer, Mr Azeez Garba, whose body was discovered on his farmland along the Owa-Onire axis, the boundary between Isanlu-Isin and Owu-Isin in Isin Local Government Area of the State.

The Commissioner of Police, Ojo Adekimi, described the murder as “cruel, senseless and unacceptable,” and directed the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) to intensify efforts to identify and arrest those behind the attack.

According to the police, preliminary investigations showed that the deceased left home for his farm in the morning but did not return, prompting his family members and local vigilantes to organise a search.

The search party reportedly found his motorcycle parked on the farmland before discovering his lifeless body a short distance away. Police said the victim had sustained deep machete cuts.

Reacting to the incident, CP Adekimi ordered investigators to deploy all available intelligence and investigative resources to unravel the circumstances surrounding the killing.

“The killing is cruel, senseless and unacceptable,” the commissioner of Police said, assuring residents that the command would leave no stone unturned in bringing the perpetrators to justice.

Although no suspect had been arrested as of Monday, the command said all available leads were being diligently pursued.

The police also assured the bereaved family, the people of Isin Local Government Area and the general public that investigators were working tirelessly to track down everyone connected with the crime.

“The Kwara State Police Command remains unwavering in its commitment to safeguarding lives and property across the state and will not relent until every person responsible for this reprehensible act is brought before the law,” the statement added.

The statement was signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police.

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Kwara: Joint Security Team Arrests Alleged Cultist, Recovers Firearm

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Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

A coordinated security operation involving the Kwara State Police Command, other security agencies and the Kwara State Polytechnic Security Unit has led to the arrest of a suspected cultist, Agboola Olamilekan, with a locally fabricated pistol recovered from him in Ilorin.

The operation, carried out as part of ongoing efforts to combat cultism and violent crimes across the state, was described by the police as another breakthrough in intelligence-driven policing aimed at dismantling criminal networks and reducing the circulation of illegal firearms.

Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, in a statement issued on Wednesday on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, said the suspect was apprehended during the joint operation while in possession of the firearm.

According to the statement, the operation is part of the Command’s sustained strategy to disrupt cult-related activities and deny criminal elements the opportunity to operate within the state.

Commenting on the development, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ojo Adekimi, reaffirmed the Command’s determination to intensify the fight against cultism and other violent crimes.

“Every successful operation represents another step towards dismantling criminal networks and enhancing public safety across the state through proactive and intelligence-led policing,” the commissioner said.

The police disclosed that investigations are ongoing to identify and arrest other suspected members of the criminal network linked to the suspect.

The Command added that it remains committed to advancing the policing vision of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, through intelligence-led policing, strategic collaboration with relevant stakeholders and sustained operations aimed at ensuring that those responsible for threatening the peace and security of Kwara State are brought to justice.

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