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The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede, has pledged a sustained military offensive against terrorists and criminal networks in Kwara and Niger states with the official launch of Operation Savannah Shield.
The ceremony took place on Thursday at Sobi Barracks in Ilorin, headquarters of the newly established multi-agency operation approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The launch follows a recent deadly terrorist attack in Kaiama and parts of neighbouring Niger State.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq conducted the flag-off alongside General Oluyede and the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu.
According to Daily Trust, the deployment featured over 30 open-back pickup trucks mounted with guns, including Armed Personnel Carriers, signalling a robust security response.
Decisive Response to Rising Insecurity
Speaking at the inauguration, General Oluyede said Operation Savannah Shield is a decisive response to escalating insecurity in North Central Nigeria. He noted that cross-border infiltration and collaboration between terrorist elements operating in the North West and across the Sahel have undermined public confidence and heightened tensions.
The operation, he explained, is a proactive and coordinated effort designed to secure the entirety of Kwara State and contiguous parts of Niger State.
The Joint Task Force has a clear mandate: to secure lives and property, neutralise terrorist and criminal elements, dismantle kidnapping networks, and restore law and order within the operational area.
Intelligence-Driven, Community-Focused Approach
The Chief of Defence Staff emphasised that the operation will be intelligence-driven and community-focused, with firm execution backed by synergy among the Armed Forces, the Nigeria Police Force, and other security agencies.
Special attention, he added, will be directed at forested and difficult terrains, particularly around the Kainji Lake National Park area, which criminal groups have exploited as transit and staging grounds.
A Structured, Enduring Campaign
Assuring residents of a sustained military presence, General Oluyede stressed that Operation Savannah Shield is not a temporary exercise but a structured and enduring campaign.
“We shall combine kinetic and non-kinetic measures through robust patrols, targeted operations, strategic communication, and community engagement to deny criminals freedom of action and rebuild public trust,” he stated.
