The Nigerian Army has formally launched Operation Savannah Shield, a coordinated counterterrorism initiative aimed at dismantling armed groups operating across parts of North-Central Nigeria, including forest corridors straddling Kwara and neighbouring states.
The operation was flagged off at Sobi Barracks, with senior military commanders describing it as an intelligence-driven campaign designed to flush out insurgents, bandits and transnational criminal elements exploiting difficult terrains such as the Kainji forest axis and surrounding rural belts.
Unlike earlier assumptions, the initiative is not a state government programme but a direct Nigerian Army counterinsurgency mission, supported by other security agencies under federal command structures.
Military authorities stressed that the objective is to restore territorial dominance, protect farming communities, and secure key transit routes that have recently witnessed sporadic attacks and abductions.
Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who attended the flag-off ceremony, welcomed the deployment and expressed confidence that residents would “sleep better” with the strengthened military presence.
He reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to supporting federal security operations through logistics coordination and community engagement.
Security analysts say the renewed offensive reflects a shift toward proactive territorial sweeps, particularly around forest reserves and border communities that have been linked to armed cells. Areas near Kainji Lake National Park and adjoining forest belts have long been identified as strategic hideouts for criminal networks moving between states.
Military sources indicate that Operation Savannah Shield will combine kinetic operations with intelligence-gathering partnerships involving local leaders.
Troops have reportedly begun coordinated patrols, reconnaissance missions and targeted clear-and-hold exercises designed to prevent regrouping by fleeing militants.
The launch signals a broader recalibration of Nigeria’s internal security strategy — one that prioritises sustained territorial control, rapid mobility, and inter-agency synergy.
For affected communities, the immediate expectation is simple: reduced attacks, safer roads, and a gradual return to economic normalcy.
Headlinenews.news Special report
