States in the South-West have stepped up border security following a wave of killings and abductions by suspected bandits in neighbouring Kwara State.

Security chiefs in Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo confirmed on Thursday that they had activated containment strategies to prevent fleeing gunmen from infiltrating their territories amid ongoing military operations in Kwara.

A senior government official said intelligence reports indicated mass movements of bandits toward the South-West, prompting urgent federal and state responses. “The intelligence available indicates the movement of terrorists from Kwara to the South-West. Security agencies have been activated to cut off and eliminate the hoodlums,” the source disclosed.

Kwara has witnessed multiple deadly raids in recent weeks, leaving dozens dead and many abducted. On September 29, at least 12 forest guards and a traditional chief were killed in Oke-Ode, Ifelodun Local Government Area, while four others were wounded.

Six days earlier, gunmen abducted a woman and a teenage girl in Edu LGA during a midnight raid. On Sunday, another assault on Oke-Ode left 15 vigilantes, a traditional ruler and other residents dead, with five persons abducted.

Similar coordinated attacks in Patigi and Lafiagi claimed the life of a pregnant woman and led to the abduction of 18 villagers, forcing many residents to flee to Ilorin and other towns.

Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who visited Oke-Ode on Thursday, condemned the killings and assured residents of improved security. He was accompanied by the state’s police commissioner, DSS director and NSCDC commandant.

“We have come to commiserate with the community over the attacks. Security forces, forest guards and vigilantes have shown resilience in repelling the attackers. Everything is being put in place to end such occurrences,” the governor said.

The Nigerian Air Force has deployed fighter jets for surveillance and support, while ground troops intensify operations against the assailants. National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu is said to be directly coordinating containment efforts with service chiefs.

Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, warned that insurgency and banditry remained major threats across the Sahel and urged coordinated regional action. Speaking at the close of Exercise Haske Biyu in Jaji, Kaduna, he stressed: “At the end of the day, the only thing we must do is to look for the bad guys and take them out. That is the only way we can have peace.”

Security agencies in the South-West have rolled out preventive measures.

In Oyo, Amotekun Corps Commander, Col. Olayinka Olayanju (retd.), assured residents that the state was well-secured, dismissing fears of infiltration.

In Osun, police spokesperson Abiodun Ojelabi confirmed that seven tactical teams had been deployed to border areas, with traditional rulers instructed to promptly alert operatives about suspicious movements.

Ondo Police Command also said mobile police officers had been stationed in border communities to mount checkpoints. Police PRO Olayinka Ayanlade stressed the state’s vulnerability due to its proximity to Kwara, Ekiti and Kogi, noting that “our hands are on deck to prevent and control the situation.”

Ekiti’s Special Adviser on Security, Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana (retd.), revealed that a joint operation with Kwara, Oyo and Osun was underway. “Ekiti will not be a safe haven for them. We have physical deployments along the border, not just patrols,” he said.

The Ekiti Amotekun Corps Commander, Brig. Gen. Olu Adewa (retd.), added that his men were supporting joint security teams with intelligence gathering, urging border residents to report strange movements.

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, also pledged support to Kwara in tackling the crisis. In a statement by his media aide, he condemned the killings and called for urgent federal action to bring perpetrators to justice.

The monarch emphasised the need for peace and coexistence, recalling historic conflict-resolution mechanisms between farmers and herders in Oyo. He praised security agencies for their efforts and urged Nigerians not to take security for granted.

Despite military deployments and assurances from both state and federal authorities, the situation in Kwara remains tense. Many residents continue to flee rural communities, fearing renewed attacks.

Governor AbdulRazaq has admitted that “a lot more must be done to protect the people and their properties,” while Defence Chief Musa insisted that long-term peace depends on collaboration between governments, security forces, communities and the media.

For now, South-West states remain on high alert as security forces race to contain a crisis that threatens to spill across regional boundaries.