President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered an intensified security crackdown across Nigeria’s North Central region following the deadly Woro attack that left about 75 villagers dead in Kwara State.
Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation,, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja.
Idris said the renewed security push is aimed at protecting civilians and places of worship in vulnerable communities.
According to him, the fresh offensive, code-named Operation Savannah Shield, involves the deployment of military personnel, the Nigeria Police Force and National Forest Guard units to reinforce security operations in affected areas.
He explained that the operation is backed by enhanced intelligence capabilities and rapid-response protocols under the expanded security mandate declared by President Tinubu on November 26, 2026, when he proclaimed a state of emergency on national security.
Idris said the President condemned the Kwara killings as “beastly and heartless,” describing them as part of a desperate campaign by terrorists targeting soft civilian populations. He added that Tinubu has directed security agencies to bring the full weight of the state to bear on all actors threatening peace in the region.
With heightened deployments now underway, the government said additional security presence is being established around churches and other worship centres, particularly on Sundays, in close coordination with community and faith leaders.
The minister further revealed that the Nigeria Police Force has carried out a large-scale redeployment of officers previously assigned to VIP escort duties nationwide.
The officers have since been reassigned to core community policing functions to strengthen security visibility across Kwara and other North Central states, including Plateau, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa and Niger, as well as the Federal Capital Territory.
Reaffirming Nigeria’s sovereignty in counter-terrorism operations, Idris stated that while the efforts will remain Nigerian-led and sovereignty-driven, the government remains open to cooperation with international partners, including the United States, particularly in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support.
The Federal Government assured citizens that restoring peace and protecting lives remain top priorities as intensified operations continue across the region.
