Fresh security concerns have emerged as bandit groups displaced by intensified military operations in Nigeria’s North-West reportedly expand their activities into parts of Kano State while probing routes leading to the South-West.
This was disclosed in a new security report by SBM Intelligence, which warned that the shifting pattern of attacks could widen the country’s insecurity map if not urgently contained.
According to the report, which reviewed incidents between March 6 and 12, 2026, remnants of armed groups previously operating in Zamfara State and Katsina State have begun relocating to new areas, particularly around Rogo Local Government Area of Kano.
The development, analysts said, is largely driven by sustained military pressure on bandit enclaves in the North-West, forcing fighters to disperse into smaller, more mobile cells to evade detection and aerial bombardments.
The report noted that these splinter groups are abandoning large camps and now operate in clusters, establishing temporary hideouts in forest corridors and targeting vulnerable rural communities for kidnappings and ransom.
It warned that the Rogo–Karaye axis could soon become a hotspot, with bandits reportedly using the Falgore forest as a base to launch attacks on farming communities.
Residents of affected communities, including Sundu and Yanoko, have reportedly witnessed a spike in abductions in recent days, heightening fears of an emerging security corridor in the area.
Beyond the North-West, the report highlighted growing concerns in Oyo State following the arrest of a suspected bandit attempting to infiltrate Jobele community in Afijo Local Government Area.
The location, analysts said, lies along a critical transit route linking northern forest zones to major urban centres such as Ibadan, Ogun State and Lagos State, raising fears of a potential southward expansion.
Security experts warned that such infiltration attempts may be reconnaissance missions aimed at testing the responsiveness of local vigilantes and security agencies ahead of coordinated attacks.
They added that if unchecked, abandoned grazing routes and forest belts in parts of Oyo could evolve into temporary camps for kidnapping operations, particularly along major highways, including the Lagos–Ibadan corridor.
The report further cautioned that any established presence in Afijo could expose travellers on the busy Lagos–Ibadan expressway to increased risk of abduction.
It noted that bandit groups often operate in small units of two to five members, suggesting that more operatives may already be hiding in forested areas around affected communities.
SBM Intelligence, therefore, called for stronger collaboration among federal security forces, state governments and local vigilante groups to prevent the spread.
The organisation stressed that while military gains in one region are commendable, they often trigger the displacement of criminal elements into previously peaceful areas, complicating Nigeria’s internal security landscape.
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