The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Monday commenced a large-scale security operation to clear the Kpaduma III–Kobi forest, identified as a haven for kidnappers and bandits.
The exercise follows a violent incident on September 15, 2025, when suspected kidnappers clashed with police along Kobi Village Road. The gunmen reportedly used two female victims as human shields during their escape. Both victims were rescued unharmed, but a vigilante lost his life in the process.
Led by the Director of the Department of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima, the operation aims to eliminate what authorities described as “ungoverned space” used as a hideout and transit corridor for criminals targeting communities on the outskirts of the capital.
Galadima noted that the local community fully supports the clearance and does not seek compensation for economic trees, emphasizing that the initiative is part of a broader security strategy that includes previous clearances in Apo Resettlement, Apo Guzape, and Mabushi.
Peter Olumiji, Secretary of the FCT Command and Control Centre, confirmed that the forest is a major corridor for criminal activity leading to areas like Karu, Jikwoyi, Orozo, and Kurudu. He outlined post-clearance security measures, including the establishment of a 24-hour police post, installation of solar-powered streetlights, and deployment of surveillance drones.
Residents expressed relief over the operation. Iliya Iwadagba, a Kobi village resident, described the forest as a long-standing source of fear and insecurity that had disrupted daily life and commerce over the past five years.