By Frontline Reporters
Security and intelligence sources have disclosed that a growing number of terrorists displaced by sustained military offensives in Zamfara and Sokoto states are relocating to Nigeria’s South-East and South-South regions through a network of forests, riverine routes, and border communities.
According to the sources, the insurgents are exploiting interconnected forest corridors stretching from the North through Niger and Kogi states into Anambra, Abia, Imo, and other southern states in a bid to evade mounting military pressure.
The sources, which include a serving security chief, a retired Army General, and an officer of the Department of State Services (DSS), said many of the terrorists have moved through Niger and Kogi into Anambra before dispersing into parts of the South-East, while others have pushed further south.
One security source revealed that intelligence reports indicate that some of the fleeing terrorists have already established a presence in parts of the South-West and South-East.
“These terrorists began moving out of Zamfara through remote forests and bush paths and may have found their way into states such as Imo and Abia. Some intelligence reports even point to their presence in parts of Ogun State,” the source said.
The source further disclosed that members of the Ansaru group and other criminal networks have been traced to parts of Niger, Kwara, and the South-West, adding that ongoing security operations have significantly weakened their capabilities.
Kogi Emerging as Strategic Transit Hub
A retired Army General explained that Kogi State has become a critical convergence point in the movement of terrorist elements from the North to southern regions.
According to him, insurgents rely heavily on forest routes and river corridors linked to the Niger River, particularly through the eastern axis of Kogi State, to access Anambra and subsequently move into Imo and Abia states.
“The forest belts connecting Zamfara, Benue, Niger, and Kogi provide direct links to the South-East and South-West, especially through Anambra, Ekiti, and Ondo states,” he said.
The retired officer noted that the terrorists largely navigate through long-established cattle routes and transhumance paths hidden within forests, using them to avoid detection by security agencies.
“Kogi and Kwara serve as major intersection points. From there, they connect to southern states through the Oyo National Park and extensive forested and riverine areas along the Niger River,” he added.
He also alleged that weapons left behind by disbanded armed groups in parts of Kogi State may have found their way into the hands of terrorist networks operating across the country.
Forest Corridors Linking Multiple States
A DSS officer who confirmed the development said intelligence reports show that the forest network stretches across Niger, Kwara, Kogi, Oyo, Ondo, and Ekiti states, creating extensive movement corridors for criminal elements.
According to the officer, a strategic forest belt in Kogi links directly to forest reserves in Ekiti and Ondo states, providing access routes into Edo State and other parts of the South-South region.
Security findings also indicate that dense forests and difficult terrain along the Owerre-Ezukala, Ogbunike, Awka-Orlu, Ihiala-Orlu, and Okigwe corridors provide natural cover for the movement of armed groups between Anambra and Imo states.
Similarly, the Umunneochi-Isuikwuato axis in Abia State, which borders Imo and Anambra, remains an area of concern due to its rugged terrain and direct connection to the wider South-East forest belt.
Edo Tightens Security Amid Threat Alerts
The DSS source stated that the infiltration of armed groups into Edo State through the Ondo-Ose corridor prompted heightened security measures by the state government.
He linked the spread of the insurgents to intensified military actions against terrorist groups in northern Nigeria, saying the pressure had forced many of them to seek alternative operational bases.
The warning comes days after the Edo State Government ordered the immediate closure of three secondary schools in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area following intelligence reports of a planned kidnap attack targeting students.
Terrorists Shifting Focus to Mass Abductions
Security sources also disclosed that terrorist groups are increasingly adopting mass abductions as a strategic tool to secure the release of detained commanders and members.
According to intelligence assessments, schoolchildren and other vulnerable groups are becoming primary targets as terrorists seek leverage in negotiations with authorities.
The source noted, however, that the Federal Government has strengthened its stance against negotiating with terrorist groups and is working closely with international partners to secure the release of abducted victims.
South-East Security Agencies Dismiss Claims of Major Terror Presence
Despite reports of attempted infiltration, security officials in the South-East maintain that the region remains largely hostile to northern terrorist groups.
A senior military officer attached to Anambra State’s security outfit, Udo Ga-Achi, said security forces had recorded significant successes against criminal elements operating in the area.
“The South-East is not an easy environment for these groups. We have sustained pressure on criminal camps and continue to deny them safe havens,” the officer stated.
The Anambra security outfit, Agunechemba, acknowledged encounters with kidnappers and armed criminal gangs in forests, riverine communities, and border areas but said there was no intelligence linking them directly to displaced terrorists from the North.
Its spokesperson, Nweke Nweke, said the outfit had uncovered arms caches during several operations and continued to maintain surveillance through intelligence gathering, strategic checkpoints, and collaboration with federal security agencies.
Imo, Abia Governments Assure Residents
Authorities in both Imo and Abia states have dismissed reports suggesting that terrorists have established operational bases within their territories.
Imo State Police Command spokesman, Henry Okoye, said security agencies had intensified raids on forests and hideouts across the state, stressing that there was no evidence of organised terrorist camps.
Similarly, the Abia State Government said it had not received any credible intelligence indicating the presence of terrorists in the state’s forests.
Security Adviser to Governor Alex Otti, MacDonald Uba, assured residents that proactive measures were in place to prevent infiltration and maintain public safety.
Both state governments reiterated their commitment to working closely with security agencies to safeguard lives and property and ensure that criminal elements do not gain a foothold in the region.
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