Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Ogun State’s outgoing Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo, has urgently alerted the public and security stakeholders to a growing security challenge involving armed criminal elements exploiting the state’s forested areas as operational bases and hideouts. Speaking at his farewell ceremony at the State Police Command headquarters in Abeokuta, Ogunlowo said the trend, particularly in the Ijebu axis of the state, signals a shift in criminal tactics that could have serious implications for residents’ safety and regional peace.
According to Ogunlowo, forests in parts of Ogun are increasingly being used by armed groups previously displaced from other regions of the country, who now see wooded terrain as strategic shelters for organizing kidnappings and other criminal activities. He explained that intensified security operations in northern and central Nigeria have pushed some criminal networks southwest, where dense vegetation and rural expanses provide natural concealment. This development reflects a concerning evolution in how banditry is manifesting beyond its traditional strongholds.
Ogun State, located in southwestern Nigeria and sharing borders with Lagos and other populous states, has historically been seen as relatively more secure compared with the northern regions long plagued by banditry. However, recent kidnapping cases along key thoroughfares and rural corridors, such as those in the Sagamu‑Ijebu Ode area and other Ijebu communities, have heightened fears that armed gangs are establishing a foothold using natural terrain as a shield. Law enforcement officers have previously responded to such incidents, carrying out search operations that led to the rescue of abducted victims and the neutralisation of suspects, a reminder of the ever‑present threat to travellers and rural residents alike.
During his statement, Ogunlowo urged continued and enhanced cooperation between the public and security agencies to tackle the threat. He highlighted that concerted efforts with neighbouring states and federal security bodies are being intensified to flush criminal elements out of their hiding spots and prevent the solidification of forest‑based gangs within the state. Ogunlowo also expressed confidence in the capacity of his command, acknowledging support from the state government, traditional institutions, vigilante groups, and the Police Community Relations Committee in sustaining security gains.
Security analysts say the phenomenon of bandits using forests as hideouts is part of a broader pattern seen across Nigeria’s insecurity landscape, where expansive woodlands and ungoverned terrain offer concealment to criminal groups. Bandit gangs, often responsible for kidnappings, cattle rustling and ransom demands, have historically utilised forests in northern states such as Zamfara, Katsina and Kaduna to evade capture and stage operations. These hideouts complicate efforts by police and military units, which must contend with challenging terrain and the risk of ambushes while attempting to dismantle armed camps.
The strategic importance of forests as cover has also been noted in academic and security research. Studies on banditry’s effects highlight how forested ecosystems across Nigeria are often exploited by armed groups for concealment and as base areas from which to launch attacks or hold abducted victims before ransom negotiations. This dynamic has been observed in diverse regions where law enforcement capabilities are stretched or where rural landscapes offer tactical advantage to criminal elements.
Locally, communities in and around the Ijebu area have expressed growing unease over the security situation. Rural residents and travellers navigating lesser‑patrolled roads after dusk have reported increased anxiety, fearing encounters with armed groups. This has prompted calls for more visible patrols, better early‑warning mechanisms, and closer partnerships between local vigilante outfits and formal security forces. The goal among community leaders is to ensure rural corridors do not become no‑go zones due to insecurity.
Earlier police operations in the state underscore the evolving nature of criminal activity. In January 2025, Ogun police conducted a targeted raid in forested terrain following a kidnapping along the Sagamu‑Ijebu Ode expressway, resulting in the death of several suspects and recovery of weapons and suspected proceeds of crime. That operation demonstrated the dual challenge facing security forces: criminals’ use of bushland for hideouts and the necessity of well‑coordinated intelligence‑led responses to dismantle such networks.
While official data on the exact number of banditry incidents in Ogun State remains limited, police statements and public discourse reflect heightened vigilance in recent months. The state’s proximity to major economic hubs and key transport routes makes any slide in security particularly sensitive, as criminals may seek to exploit increased traffic and the assumption of relative safety in the southwest. The authorities’ emphasis on interagency cooperation aims to prevent the sprawling of bandit networks deeper into southern and southwestern states.
Ogunlowo’s warning comes at a time when security professionals are calling for a more unified approach to nationwide insecurity challenges, including improved rural policing, community intelligence structures, and sustained pressure on criminal hideouts through joint operations. As he prepares to move into a new role at the national level, his alert underscores the idea that banditry, once concentrated in specific regions, may be spreading its influence unless proactively countered.
For residents of Ogun State, the message from the security command is clear: vigilance must accompany everyday life, and collective action between citizens and security agencies is essential if forest hideouts are to be denied to criminal elements. Ensuring safety along highway corridors, rural communities and forest fringes remains a priority for the incoming police leadership and state authorities alike.
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