A former Minister of Communications and ex-General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 3 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Tajudeen Olanrewaju (Rtd), has stated that the rising wave of kidnapping and terrorism in Nigeria’s South-West region is a profit-driven enterprise, rather than a religious or territorial struggle.
Olanrewaju intervened in a statement titled “The Insurgency War/Terrorism in Southwest – The Way I See It,” released by his Media Office on Thursday June 4, 2026.
His intervention comes in response to escalating anxiety following high-profile criminal activities in the region, such as the coordinated abduction of school pupils and teachers in Oyo State.
The retired general asserted that the violence currently affecting parts of the region should not be misconstrued as a struggle for territorial control or Islamic expansionism.
“This insurgency war/terrorism has no territorial values or Islamic faith evangelism or expansion. It is purely an ongoing business affair, as I could observe,” Olanrewaju stated.
He explained that the perpetrators have adopted guerrilla warfare tactics aimed at overstretching security forces, instilling fear, and destabilising communities.
According to him, the situation is being exploited by sponsors who may be pursuing political or financial objectives.
Olanrewaju warned that the South-West, including Lagos State, cannot assume it is insulated from wider national security challenges.
“This insurgency has no territorial value or religious ideology. It is purely a business of kidnapping for ransom and spreading fear,” he said.
He added that criminals operating in the region kill, abduct, and destroy property in order to create panic and undermine public confidence in the state.
The retired general stressed that the security threats in the South-West have evolved beyond banditry and should now be formally classified as terrorism.
“These are not bandits anymore but terrorists in our homeland,” he said, warning that failure to act decisively could undermine Nigeria’s territorial integrity.
Olanrewaju called for urgent and coordinated action, insisting that only a full-scale response could defeat the attackers and restore peace.
He also advocated the declaration of a state of emergency in affected areas to enable stronger security measures and emergency coordination.
According to him, state governors should engage retired senior military officers for strategic advice in tackling the crisis.
“The declaration of a state of emergency is necessary to activate contingency plans. Retired senior military officers can be consulted for guidance on the way forward,” he said.
He further recommended a non-conventional, full-scale military operation to address the insecurity and restore lasting stability in the region.
