By Ayodele Abere
Citing intensified military offensives in Kwara, Kogi, Ondo, Osun, and northern Nigeria, Ekiti State on Monday activated “Operation Comb the Bush,” a multi-agency security sweep aimed at stopping displaced criminal gangs from regrouping in its forests and threatening farmers returning for the rainy season.
The operation, launched at the Police Headquarters in Ado-Ekiti, pulls together the Military, Police, NSCDC, Department of State Services, and Amotekun Corps for coordinated bush combing, clearance of criminal hideouts, and raids on border flashpoints.
The State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Falade Adegoroye, said intelligence reports show security pressure in neighboring states could push armed groups into the Southwest.
“This is a proactive measure to safeguard lives, property, and our food systems before the threat arrives,” he told the joint patrol team.
Why It Matters:
Protecting Food Production
With the rainy season starting, thousands of farmers are moving back to their farms. Adegoroye said the operation will deny criminal elements access to forests and rural settlements used as staging grounds for kidnapping, cattle rustling, and attacks on infrastructure and worship centers.
“Securing the farms is securing food. If farmers can’t plant because of fear, Ekiti and Nigeria will feel it at harvest,” he said, charging officers to maintain discipline, professionalism, and respect for human rights in line with global best practice.
Regional Coordination, Not Reaction
Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana (Rtd), framed the operation as part of a broader strategy of intelligence gathering, inter-agency collaboration, and logistics support driven by Governor Biodun Oyebanji.
“This reflects foresight addressing emerging threats before they escalate, especially given developments in neighboring states,” Ogundana said. “Government will not allow criminal elements to find safe haven in Ekiti.”
Adegoroye commended Governor Oyebanji for “prioritizing security and consistently providing the support and enabling environment” security agencies need. He added that the Governor’s commitment has strengthened the fight against crime across the state.
Ogundana urged residents to support the operation with credible information, stressing that the Oyebanji administration remains resolved to keep Ekiti “safe, secure, and conducive for economic activities and peaceful coexistence.”
