Terrorists Seize Full Control of Kainji National Park, Niger State Lawmaker Warns After Narrow Escape
In a chilling escalation of Nigeria’s security woes, Rep. Jafaru Mohammad Ali, lawmaker for Borgu/Agwara Federal Constituency in Niger State, has declared that terrorists have seized complete control of Kainji National Park, turning the biodiversity hotspot into a militant stronghold. Speaking after surviving an assassination attempt on his convoy earlier this month, Ali demanded urgent military action, citing the park’s role in fueling cross-border attacks and kidnappings.
Lawmaker’s Escape: Ambush on Lumma-Babanna Road
On November 4, 2025, Rep. Jafaru Mohammad Ali Damisa’s convoy came under fire from suspected terrorists along the Lumma-Babanna road in Borgu Local Government Area. The lawmaker, en route to an official engagement in Babanna, escaped unharmed, but the attack underscored the brazen reach of armed groups in the region. Military patrols were swiftly intensified, though no arrests were immediately reported.
“This was no random hit—they targeted me for speaking out,” Ali told reporters, linking the assault to his advocacy against banditry. The incident, amid rising abductions, has heightened fears for public officials in Niger’s border zones.
Park Under Siege: Terrorists Displace Rangers, Claim Bases
Kainji National Park, spanning over 5,300 square kilometers across Niger, Kwara, and Kebbi states, has long been a flashpoint for insecurity. Ali’s November 26 address to the House of Representatives painted a dire picture: militants have evicted park rangers, occupied administrative offices, and repurposed tourist camps as operational hubs. “The park is now their fortress,” he lamented, noting the displacement of wildlife officials and conversion of eco-sites into armories.
This takeover, reportedly involving groups like the emerging “Mahmuda” faction, builds on years of incursions. As early as 2023, reports emerged of bandits hibernating in the park to launch raids, with foreign fighters—many non-Hausa speakers from Sahel nations—bolstering ranks via interconnected forests.
Cross-Border Threat: Launchpad for Attacks on Four States and Benin
The park’s strategic position near Kainji Dam amplifies the crisis, serving as a gateway for assaults into Niger, Kebbi, and Kwara states, plus communities in neighboring Benin Republic. Ali highlighted routes from Zamfara and Katsina via Ibbi National Park, enabling militants to evade Nigerian forces.
Recent strikes tied to the park include:
- November 21, 2025: Abduction of 303 students and 12 teachers from St. [details redacted for sensitivity; school in affected LGA].
- October 2025: Bombing of four military personnel between Babanna and Lumma.
- Ongoing: Killings, kidnappings, and displacements in Agwara, Borgu, Bagudo, Shanga, Kaiama, and Baruten LGAs.
Humanitarian fallout is severe, with families fleeing farms and fisheries, exacerbating food insecurity in rural enclaves.
Urgent Plea: Military Sweep, Bases, and Post-Conflict Revival
In his motion under Matters of Urgent Public Importance—adopted by the House—Ali urged President Bola Tinubu and Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Olufemi Oluyede to deploy troops with advanced weaponry for a full-scale clearance. He proposed Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) at Lumma, Audu Fari, Agwara, and Mago to reclaim territory.
Further calls included:
- Support from NEMA and the Refugee Commission for displaced residents.
- Collaboration with NALDA and the Agriculture Ministry to repurpose cleared areas into secure farming zones, restoring economic viability.
Ali warned of an “existential threat,” invoking past Senate alerts from 2022 and 2024 that urged similar operations, yet yielded limited success.
Echoes of a Broader Sahel Spillover
This crisis mirrors the southward creep of Sahel extremism, with groups like ISWAP and Boko Haram remnants infiltrating from Benin and Burkina Faso. A 2024 Africa Defense Forum report noted the park’s closure to tourists, endangering its lion population and the vital Kainji Dam, which powers much of Nigeria’s grid. Analysts like Kars de Bruijne of the Clingendael Institute describe it as a “canary in the coal mine” for regional instability, blending banditry with jihadist ambitions.
Rep. Ali’s survival and stark testimony spotlight a tipping point for Kainji, where nature’s bounty now shields terror’s grip. With federal intervention pending, the stakes—for security, ecology, and livelihoods—could not be higher, demanding swift action to reclaim the park before it becomes an entrenched caliphate outpost.
For comprehensive coverage, read the full report at Linda Ikeji’s Blog. Monitor developments on X via Niger State Government’s account.