Bandits fleeing military offensive spread to Kano, south-west eye – Report

Fresh security concerns have emerged as bandit groups displaced by intensified military operations in north-west Nigeria reportedly expanded their activities into parts of Kano State as they explored routes leading to the south-west.

This was revealed in a new security report from SBM Intelligence, which warned that the changing pattern of attacks could widen the country’s insecurity map if not urgently contained.

According to the report, which examined incidents between March 6 and 12, 2026, remnants of armed groups previously operating in Zamfara State and Katsina State have started moving into new areas, particularly around Rogo Local Government Area in Kano.

The development, analysts say, is largely driven by continued military pressure on bandit enclaves in the northwest, forcing fighters to disperse into smaller, more mobile cells to evade detection and aerial bombardment.

The report finds that these separatist groups are abandoning large camps and now operating in groups, establishing temporary hideouts in forest corridors and targeting vulnerable rural communities for kidnapping and ransom.

He warned that the Rogo-Karaye axis could soon become a hotspot, with bandits reportedly using Falgore forest as a base to launch attacks on farming communities.

Residents of affected communities, including Sundu and Yanoko, have reportedly seen an increase in kidnappings in recent days, raising fears of an emerging security corridor in the area.
Beyond the North West, the report highlighted growing concerns in Oyo State following the arrest of a suspected bandit attempting to infiltrate Jobele community in Afijo Local Government Area.

The location, analysts say, is along a critical transit route linking northern forest areas to major urban centers such as Ibadan, Ogun state and Lagos state, raising fears of potential southward expansion.

Security experts have warned that such infiltration attempts could be reconnaissance missions aimed at testing the responsiveness of local vigilantes and security agencies before coordinated attacks.

They added that if left unchecked, abandoned grazing paths and forest belts in some parts of Oyo could turn into temporary camps for kidnapping operations, particularly along major highways, including the Lagos-Ibadan corridor.

The report also warns that any confirmed presence in Afijo could expose travelers on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to an increased risk of kidnapping.

He noted that bandit groups often operate in small units of two to five members, suggesting that multiple operators may already be hiding in forested areas around affected communities.

SBM Intelligence, therefore, called for stronger collaboration between federal security forces, state governments and local vigilante groups to prevent the spread.

The organization highlighted that while military gains in a region are commendable, they often trigger the movement of criminal elements into previously peaceful areas, complicating Nigeria’s internal security landscape.

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