In the quiet town of Oke-Ode, nestled about 70 kilometres from the Kwara State capital of Ilorin in central Nigeria, a wave of violence shattered the calm on Sunday, September 28, 2025. Gunmen stormed the community, unleashing a barrage of gunfire that left at least 12 forest guards dead and several others wounded, according to statements from the Kwara State Police Command and multiple news outlets including TheFact Daily and The Guardian Nigeria. The attack, which targeted those tasked with protecting the region’s forests and helping flush out criminal gangs, has triggered a swift and forceful response from both state and federal authorities.
The victims, members of the local forest security service, were discovered by a joint team of police officers and National Forest Security Service personnel. Four survivors, all suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, are currently receiving medical treatment, as confirmed by Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, the Police Public Relations Officer for Kwara State. The immediate aftermath saw a community in shock, grappling with loss and uncertainty as the search for answers began.
In the hours following the attack, no group stepped forward to claim responsibility. However, the region is no stranger to such violence. Kwara State—and much of northern and central Nigeria—has been plagued by frequent clashes involving local farmers, herders, and increasingly emboldened criminal gangs. These groups, often referred to as bandits in local parlance, operate out of remote forest hideouts, launching raids on villages, burning homes, and kidnapping residents for ransom. The recent attack in Oke-Ode fits a grim pattern that has become all too familiar for many Nigerians.
According to The Guardian Nigeria, the area has witnessed a series of deadly incidents in recent months. Locals have pointed fingers at the Mahmuda group, a gang reportedly loyal to Mahmud al-Nigeri, a senior figure within the Ansaru terrorist organization. Ansaru itself is a splinter faction that broke away from the notorious Boko Haram group in 2021. Its members are believed to maintain both urban sleeper cells and remote forest bases across Niger and Kwara states, as Nigeria’s national security adviser Nuhu Ribadu revealed last month. In a significant development just weeks before the Oke-Ode tragedy, authorities announced the capture of al-Nigeri and another Ansaru leader, Mahmud Muhammad Usman, in mid-August 2025.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State was quick to respond, calling for increased military deployments and decisive action to "eliminate the criminals responsible for the attacks in the area." In a statement released on Monday, September 29, 2025, the governor urged residents to remain calm, resist the temptation to turn against one another, and support ongoing efforts to restore order. He also praised the bravery of the forest guards and local hunters, noting that despite losing five of their own, they managed to neutralize several attackers during the chaos. Such acts of courage, he suggested, highlight the resilience and determination of communities under siege.
The violence in Oke-Ode did not go unanswered. The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) confirmed the deployment of fighter jets for a series of coordinated airstrikes targeting the areas surrounding the town, including Kakihun, Babanla, and other nearby settlements. According to an official statement signed by Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, Director of Public Relations and Information, the Air Component of Operation Fansan Yamma (OPFY) Sector 3 executed "multiple coordinated missions" on September 28, 2025. These operations included both reconnaissance and close air support, aiming to deter further threats and support ground forces in their efforts to restore security.
"Hostile elements sighted east of Babanla were decisively engaged," the NAF statement declared, marking a direct military response to the violence that had rocked Oke-Ode. The air force emphasized that all operations were "completed successfully," reinforcing its commitment to defending Nigeria’s territorial integrity and protecting both troops and civilians. Concurrent surveillance flights gathered critical intelligence, further supporting the ground operations and demonstrating, as the statement put it, "a decisive and ongoing military effort to restore order in the region."
The NAF’s actions are part of a broader strategy to leverage air power in support of ground troops—a tactic that has become increasingly important in a landscape where criminal gangs often exploit the difficult terrain of forests and rural areas to evade capture. "The NAF assures Nigerians of its unwavering resolve to defend the nation’s territorial integrity and safeguard communities against threats," the statement read. Citizens were encouraged "to remain confident, vigilant, and supportive of the Armed Forces as decisive actions continue to restore lasting peace and security across the country."
While the identity of the attackers remains officially unconfirmed, the context provided by local and national authorities, as well as recent security developments, points to the complex web of armed groups operating in the region. The so-called bandits, many of whom are believed to be affiliated with splinter groups like Ansaru, continue to pose a significant challenge for security forces. Their tactics—ranging from sporadic raids to large-scale kidnappings—have kept communities on edge and stretched the resources of law enforcement agencies.
The attack in Oke-Ode is a stark reminder of the broader security crisis facing Nigeria’s northern and central states. The competition for scarce land and water resources has long fueled tensions between farmers and herders, but the emergence of organized criminal gangs has added a dangerous new dimension to the conflict. As these groups grow bolder, their activities not only threaten local livelihoods but also undermine confidence in the government’s ability to maintain order.
For many residents, the military’s rapid response—bolstered by airstrikes and increased deployments—offers a measure of reassurance. Yet, the path to lasting peace remains uncertain. The capture of high-profile figures like Mahmud al-Nigeri may disrupt some networks, but as recent events have shown, the threat of violence is far from over.
As the dust settles in Oke-Ode, families mourn the loss of those who gave their lives protecting their community. Their sacrifice, and the swift action taken by security forces, underscore both the challenges and the resolve that define the ongoing fight against insecurity in Nigeria. The days ahead will test the resilience of Oke-Ode and the effectiveness of the government’s response, but for now, the message from both state and federal authorities is clear: the pursuit of peace in Kwara State continues, undeterred.