Tinubu Orders 24-Hour Aerial Surveillance On Northern Forests

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday ordered comprehensive aerial security patrols across forests in Kwara State after a surge in kidnappings and terrorist attacks.

His Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, disclosed this in a post on his verified X account, stating that the President has instructed the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to scale up surveillance over the deepest sections of the forests where criminal groups are believed to be hiding.

He said the deployment will run continuously, with air assets maintaining real-time communication and coordination with ground forces.

Dare added that the same directive extends to the Kebbi and Niger corridors, where joint operations are expected to aid the rescue of abducted persons.

Communities in the affected areas, he noted, have also been encouraged to quickly share intelligence on unusual activities to support security operations.

A recent surge of violent abductions and raids across Kwara, Kebbi and Niger States has highlighted the expanding reach of criminal networks exploiting remote forests and poorly governed spaces.

Tinubu’s instruction for uninterrupted air surveillance paired with coordinated ground action is described as an urgent and necessary step to dismantle these groups, free captives and restore public confidence.

Dare wrote in part:

“President Tinubu has ordered total security cordon over the forests in Kwara State following recent kidnappings and terrorist activities.

“President Tinubu directed the airforce to expand its air surveillance across the innermost parts of the forests in Kwara State where it is believed the terrorists are hiding.

“They are to maintain a 24-hour surveillance and link up with the booths on the ground. This order equally applies to the Kebbi and Niger States axis where many are expected to be rescued.

“Communities are also urged to provide timely information about strange movements and activities to aide the work of the security forces.”

The Presidency further revealed that intensified pressure from both the military and the Department of State Services (DSS) over the weekend led to the release of the 38 church members kidnapped in Eruku, Kwara State.

Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga said a non-kinetic strategy was used to secure the freedom of the 38 abducted worshippers.

In a statement appreciating the military and the DSS, Onanuga noted that the gunmen understood that failing to cooperate would have resulted in them being “pummelled”.

He explained:

“After the incident, the DSS and the military were involved in the rescue effort. They got in contact with the bandits to release the captives unharmed.

“On Sunday, they were able to get them out unharmed. They do have a way of tracking these people.

“The security agencies have a way of contacting these people. They (bandits) know the consequences of not acquiescing to government demands. They know they could be pummelled.”

Onanuga stressed that using force would have been dangerous because terrorists tend to hide behind abductees as “human shields”, increasing the risk of “collateral damage”.

He added that striking the criminals’ hideout could have endangered the hostages.

The presidential aide also stated that the military will determine “the next line of action” regarding the kidnappers.

The freed victims were seized from the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) in Eruku, Kwara State on November 18, 2025, and the Director-General of DSS, Adeola Ajayi, briefed President Tinubu on November 21 about the worsening national security situation.

Tinubu had announced on Sunday that all abductees had been released after receiving detailed security updates from top military and intelligence chiefs at the State House in Abuja.