Reporting by **The Nation** indicates that the Ekiti State Government has inaugurated “Operation Flush,” a joint security task force aimed at eliminating criminal elements from the state’s forest reserves. Governor Biodun Oyebanji emphasized that the operation was triggered by a recent spike in kidnappings along the border towns and agricultural corridors that have threatened food security in the region.
The task force includes personnel from the Nigerian Army, Police, and the local Amotekun Corps, equipped with new patrol vehicles and drone surveillance technology. The state government has also placed traditional rulers on high alert, tasking them with providing actionable intelligence on suspicious movements within their domains to ensure the operation’s success.
**Vanguard** reported that “security forces have already made several arrests in the first 24 hours,” while **The Guardian** noted that “farmers in Ekiti are hopeful that the move will allow them to return to their fields safely.”
**Echotitbits take:** Ekiti is taking a proactive stance by integrating local intelligence (Amotekun) with federal might. The use of drones is a significant upgrade, but the real challenge will be maintaining the funding and momentum of “Operation Flush” once the initial media attention fades.
Source: The Guardian – https://guardian.ng/news/insecurity-ekiti-launches-operation-comb-the-bush-to-flush-out-criminals/, April 14, 2026
Photo credit: The Guardian
