The Chief of Defence Staff has sent special forces and surveillance drones to Oyo State to combat a rising wave of kidnappings that has rattled residents and drawn alarm from officials.
The deployment marks an escalation in the military's response to security threats in the southwestern state, where criminal gangs have intensified abductions for ransom in recent weeks. The decision came after security agencies concluded that conventional policing efforts had failed to stem the tide of incidents.
Special forces units, trained for rapid response and precision operations, will work alongside air assets to track and intercept kidnappers. The drones will provide real-time surveillance of kidnapping hotspots and help identify gang hideouts in forests and rural areas where abductors have traditionally operated.
Oyo State, home to Ibadan and several other major towns, has long struggled with banditry and abduction. The recent spike has forced residents to avoid certain routes, kept children out of schools in affected areas, and prompted business owners to increase security spending. Families have reported paying millions of naira in ransom to recover loved ones.
The military's move signals that the federal government views the situation as severe enough to warrant armed forces involvement. Such deployments typically run parallel to police operations and are meant to provide firepower and mobility that conventional law enforcement cannot match.
The CDS has not released specific timelines for the operation or the exact number of troops being sent. Military sources said the deployment would focus on major kidnapping corridors and would coordinate with state and local security agencies to gather intelligence on gang movements and hideouts.
Resident groups in Oyo have called for sustained military presence, arguing that criminals have become bolder because they face minimal consequences. They say kidnappers operate in broad daylight in some areas, suggesting either poor security coverage or tacit understanding with local officials.
The next phase will depend on how quickly the special forces establish a foothold and whether the drone surveillance yields actionable intelligence on gang leaders and their locations.
