Army Vows Sustained Onslaught Against Bandits in Kwara
By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2 Division, Nigerian Army, and Commander Sector 3 of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Major General C.R. Nnebeife, has assured residents of Kwara State of sustained military operations to flush out bandits and other criminal groups terrorising communities in the state.
Nnebeife gave the assurance during an operational visit to Patrol Base Babanla and the palace of the traditional ruler of Ayekale village, Oba Pius Oluwole Oni Dofin of Idofin Odoeshe Ayekale, following a recent bandit attack that claimed three lives at Olegbede village in Omu-Aran Local Government Area.
During the visit on October 9, 2025, the GOC and his team moved through the Babasango Forest, believed to be a hideout for bandits, and successfully rescued two kidnapped victims held by the assailants.
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The Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 2 Division, Lieutenant Colonel Polycarp Okoye, confirmed the development in a statement on Friday.
He said the rescued persons had been handed over to the monarch in Ayekale for onward reunion with their families.
Oba Oluwole commended the Army for its swift response and renewed presence in the area, describing the rescue as a relief to the community.
He linked the recurring attacks on nearby villages to the community’s closeness to Babasango Forest, which, he noted, had become a refuge for criminal gangs.
While consoling the monarch and families of those killed in the recent attack, Major General Nnebeife reaffirmed the military’s commitment to maintaining aggressive patrols and clearance operations in the area.
“We will sustain pressure on these criminal elements and ensure they have no space to regroup or threaten law-abiding citizens,” the GOC said.
