Security agencies in Ekiti State launched a joint operation called "Operation Comb the Bush" on Monday to curb potential criminal infiltration. The exercise involves personnel from the police, armed forces, NSCDC, State Security Service (SSS), and Amotekun Corps. It was initiated following intelligence reports of intensified security actions against criminal groups in neighbouring Kwara, Kogi, Ondo, and Osun states, as well as parts of northern Nigeria. Police Commissioner Falade Adegoroye stated the pressure on criminals in those areas could push them into the South-west, including Ekiti. He described the operation as a proactive step to prevent kidnapping, cattle rustling, vandalism, and attacks on infrastructure and worship centres.
The operation will include coordinated bush clearing, raids on suspected hideouts, and visibility policing, especially in border communities. Adegoroye emphasized that it also aims to protect farmers returning to their farms with the rainy season. He urged officers to uphold discipline and human rights during the exercise. The commissioner credited Governor Biodun Oyebanji for providing logistical support and creating an enabling environment for security operations. Special Adviser on Security Matters, Ebenezer Ogundana, a retired brigadier general, said the operation reflects the governor's foresight in tackling emerging threats. He urged residents to provide credible intelligence to aid the effort.
Governor Biodun Oyebanji is betting on pre-emption rather than reaction, deploying a multi-agency security sweep before any major breach occurs in Ekiti—a rare shift from Nigeria's usual crisis-driven security playbook. By launching "Operation Comb the Bush" based on intelligence about displacement of criminals from neighbouring states, Oyebanji positions himself as a governor anticipating threats, not merely responding to them. The involvement of the SSS, Amotekun, police, and military signals an attempt at seamless inter-agency coordination, often a weak point in Nigeria's security architecture.
This move gains weight against the backdrop of rising insecurity in nearby states—Kwara and Kogi grappling with banditry, Ondo facing kidnapping sprees, and Osun recording attacks on communities. Ekiti's relative calm could make it a soft target, especially in forested border zones where criminal groups might seek refuge. The timing also aligns with the farming season, suggesting the government recognises that rural insecurity directly undermines livelihoods. By linking security to agricultural safety, the administration frames protection not just as law enforcement but as economic preservation.
For rural farmers and border communities in Ekiti, this operation could mean fewer disruptions, safer access to farmlands, and reduced fear of ambush or abduction. If sustained, it may bolster public confidence in state-level security initiatives, particularly where federal responses have faltered. This reflects a growing trend in South-western states—Lagos with its SWAT, Oyo with joint patrols—where regional governments are stepping in to fill national security gaps, reshaping the discourse on local governance and public safety.
