Security Expert in Kwara State, Salihu Dantata, has raised urgent concerns over rising insurgency and terrorism attacks in Nigeria, particularly in Kwara and Katsina states. He called for permanent security structures in vulnerable areas, saying temporary operations are insufficient to protect communities.
Speaking in an interview with ARISE News on Thursday, Dantata highlighted the escalating threat posed by non-state actors, including the recent Mahmouda terrorist invasion. He said: “Unfortunately, rescue did not come until a lot of people were massacred. Casualties are rising up to 300, with janazas still ongoing, as local inhabitants and skeletal military forces could not respond effectively.”
Dantata attributed the delayed response to poor infrastructure, noting that “the proximity between Woro to Kanji, where you have an Air Weapons School and 101 Battalion, is about three hours over dilapidated roads. From Wawa to Kayama, it can take five to six hours, even in SUVs.”
He also warned of potential local collaboration with terrorists, explaining that some militants spoke local dialects during attacks, suggesting “a kind of collaboration and conspiracy between them and neighbouring villages.”
Highlighting systemic weaknesses, Dantata criticised the security forces’ limited engagement: “The security forces there only do what you call big-man protective measures. The only time you see their seriousness is when a governor is coming or someone summons them. After the Mahmouda invasion, there was no full battalion presence in Kiama or the villages.”
Dantata stressed that temporary operations like Operation Savannah Shield, though helpful, are insufficient. “What you need is permanent mobile police squadrons, or full deployment of the army or air force. Most of these areas are ungoverned. Without permanent structures, militants can always escape before forces arrive,” he said.
The expert also cited intelligence failures and logistical challenges, noting that militants had warned communities of impending attacks and that local information had been shared but not acted upon. “Even with air support and battalions nearby, the combination of poor roads, delayed deployment, and partial local complicity allows attacks to succeed,” he added.
Dantata concluded by urging the government to go beyond reactive measures, insisting that permanent security infrastructure is critical to prevent further massacres and restore public confidence in the safety of vulnerable communities.
Boluwatife Enome
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