Revealed: 270 enclaves of terrorists, bandits in Nigeria

•How criminals prehend the country’s forests, creeks, and highways

•Tragic tales of blood, tears, and lamentations from North to South

•As citizens unrecorded astatine the mercy of gunmen

•55 unsafe spots successful Kwara

•Over 18 section govts nether bandits’ siege successful Niger state

•Katsina: 50 corridors of decease successful 26 section governments

•We’re doing our champion to apprehension the concern —Govt, information agencies

By Emma Amaize; Soni Daniel; Dayo Johnson; Samuel Oyadongha; Jimitota Onoyume; Egufe Yafugborhi; Ozioruva Aliu; Chioma Onuegbu; Ochuko Akuopha; Steve Oko; Emmanuel Iheaka; Jeff Agbodo; Haruna Aliyu; Ademola Akinyemi; Ndahi Marama; Abel Daniel; Umar Yusuf; Musa Ubandawaki; Wole Mosadomi; Ibrahim Hassan-Wuyo; Bashir Bello; Marie-Therese Nanlong; Charly Agwam; Femi Bolaji; Idris Salisu; Peter Duru; Ibrahim Ogala; Rotimi Ojomoyela; James Ogunnaike; Efe Onodjae & Deola Badru

Nigeria is bleeding from its ungoverned spaces which are widening and determination is palpable fearfulness from wood to forest, creek to creek and authorities to state. Across the country, terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, and robbers person carved retired territories that person slipped beyond authorities power portion citizens unrecorded astatine the mercy of men with guns.

From Edo’s heavy forests to Bayelsa’s murky creeks, from the deadly highways of Kaduna and Katsina to the porous borders of Adamawa and Sokoto, nary portion is spared. Every day, humor is spilled connected roads erstwhile harmless for travellers, and families wage ransom to reclaim loved ones seized successful the dark.

Daily, the state wakes up to chilling headlines of killings, abductions, and equipped attacks that chopped crossed regions erstwhile thought secure. What began arsenic isolated transgression acts has turned into a nationwide siege.

Security operatives are warring back—combing forests, raiding creeks, and mounting drone patrols—
Yet, arsenic 1 transgression enclave falls, different rises successful a caller location, deepening the consciousness that Nigeria’s sovereignty is nether siege from within. But the question remains: who truly governs Nigeria’s ungoverned spaces?

This peculiar Vanguard report, spanning each six geopolitical zones, exposes however transgression enclaves person flourished successful forests, creeks, and borderlands—and however authorities and section authorities are scrambling to reclaim control. It is simply a representation of a federation astatine warfare with the shadows wrong its ain borders.

Flash points successful Edo: Herdsmen, kidnappers regularisation forests

Edo’s once-productive forests person go havens for kidnappers and transgression herdsmen. Areas on Benin–Abraka and Sapele roads, arsenic good arsenic the Benin–Auchi–Okene axis, are notorious. Other unsafe spots successful Edo are Ifon, Okpella, Iruekpen / Agbede, Sasaro arsenic good arsenic Auchi-Igarra-Ibillo road.

Victims are held successful heavy forests until ransoms are paid. To reclaim control, the Edo authorities deployed implicit 1,200 operatives of the Edo State Security Corps alongside constabulary and subject units.

Commissioner of Police Monday Agbonika leads associated operations involving the Army, Air Force, and Civil Defence. Supported by drones and aerial surveillance, the squad has combed forests on Benin–Sapele Road, destroying hideouts. “The bush combing volition proceed until each transgression elements are flushed out,” Agbonika vowed, urging residents to study suspicious tenants.

Rivers and creeks of transgression successful Bayelsa

Bayelsa’s analyzable creeks and rivers service arsenic routes for criminals engaged successful robbery, piracy, and cultism. Flashpoints see Swali, Okaka, Amarata, Agudama-Epie, Yenezue-gene, Ovom, Biogbolo, Opolo and Tombia Roundabout successful Yenagoa. Security agencies, including Operation Delta Safe and the Navy, person intensified raids. Police spokesperson Musa Mohammed said a “law enforcement governance system” combining tactical units, intelligence, and drones is successful place. CCTV cameras are besides being installed crossed Yenagoa to bolster surveillance.

Waterways: Akwa Ibom’s large acheronian spots

Eket and Oron areas successful Akwa Ibom person seen predominant kidnappings linked to pirates utilizing the Oron–Calabar waterways. Recently, six Cameroonian suspects were arrested, and 20 passengers were abducted successful April 2025. Commissioner of Police Baba Mohammed Azare warned edifice operators against harbouring criminals. Governor Umo E...