In a stark warning that has ignited alarm across Nigeria’s Southwest, prominent activist Nefertiti, known on X as @firstladyship, has decried the worsening insecurity plaguing Kogi, Kwara, Ogun, and Oyo states, declaring that terrorists are now just “3 hours from Lagos.”
Her viral post highlights how relentless terrorist attacks have transformed once-vibrant communities into ghost towns, with villages abandoned and residents fleeing in fear.
The crisis, rooted in terrorist incursions that began intensifying in the North-Central region, has spilled southward, displacing thousands and disrupting daily life.
According to a recent video shared in Nefertiti’s post, terrorist assaults in Kogi State have left streets empty and homes deserted, a pattern now repeating in neighboring states.
Nefertiti’s statement paints a grim picture: “Kogi is gone. Kwara is gone. Ogun is surrounded. Oyo to pay taxes to terrorists. They are now 3 hours from Lagos.”
She specifically called out Yoruba leaders for their silence, questioning, “Who in Yoruba land is speaking for you?” and criticizing figures like Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka and activist Sunday Igboho for not addressing the encroaching threat.
Recent incidents underscore the urgency of her alert.
In Oyo State, terrorists have issued handwritten notes to residents of Ikoyi-Ile town, accusing them of “disobedience” for refusing to pay imposed levies and threatening an attack on January 20, 2026.
This follows a deadly assault on a National Park Service office in Oloka, Orire Local Government Area, where gunmen killed four personnel and left one critically injured.
Security experts link these events to the spread of terrorist groups from Kwara and Kogi, where similar attacks have surged in recent months.
In Kwara, terrorist violence has targeted worshippers and security personnel in border towns, with reports of deadly assaults forcing mass evacuations.
Kogi’s western Okun communities have faced coordinated attacks on churches and villages, including abductions during services.
Fleeing terrorists from Kwara have crossed into Kogi, killing four residents in one recent incursion before retreating to forests near Obajana.
Ogun State, described as “surrounded,” has seen increased terrorist activity along its borders, exacerbating fears of a broader invasion.
Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, echoed these concerns in November 2025, warning that terrorists and their networks are plotting major attacks across the Southwest, using forests in Kogi, Kwara, Ekiti, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Ogun, and Lagos as bases.
“What is happening in Kogi and Kwara are just test grounds; the real targets are Oyo, Ekiti, Ondo, and Lagos,” Adams stated, calling for urgent measures to curb the infiltration.
The Think Yoruba First organization and its Political Action Committee issued a joint press statement on January 7, 2026, labeling the situation a “regional emergency.”
They documented a “continuous insecurity arc” across forests and boundaries, including killings at Oyo Park, abductions along Ondo-Ekiti borders, and attacks in Kogi West.
The group urged Southwest governors to establish a Joint Security Architecture, including intelligence fusion centers, forest patrols, and upgrades to the Amotekun security network.
Critics, including former presidential candidate Peter Obi, have condemned the federal government’s response, noting a pattern of violence that has claimed lives in multiple states since the start of 2026.
Obi called for an “all-hands-on-deck approach” to end the “cycle of senseless killings,” highlighting attacks in Niger, Plateau, Kano, and Katsina.
Afenifere, a pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, has slammed the Nigerian government for failing to address the worsening insecurity in Kwara and Kogi, warning of attempts to destabilize the region.
The economic fallout is severe. Rural terrorism in Oyo alone has disrupted farming, contributing to food insecurity with thousands displaced and farmlands abandoned.
A 2023-2024 study by the Journal of Political Studies noted that terrorist raids have led to widespread destruction, with over 12,000 fatalities nationwide from similar violence between 2006 and 2021.
In the Northwest, groups led by figures like Bello Turji continue to displace communities, with recent attacks in Sokoto forcing evacuations and abductions.
Federal efforts, including Nigerian Air Force operations under Operation FANSAN YANMA, have neutralized some terrorist groups in Katsina through airstrikes, fragmenting their movements.
However, ground attacks persist, with terrorists adapting by targeting remote outposts and villages.
Kogi Governor Ahmed Ododo reported dismantling terrorist camps, but residents protest the ongoing threats.
Nefertiti’s post has sparked online outrage, with users like @onlineguru__
accusing Tinubu supporters of prioritizing politics over safety: “The evil they support is now befalling them.”
Others, such as @wilsonakubobi, lamented the fall of the Southwest and the muted response from leaders.
Credit: TheNiche
As the January 20 threat in Oyo looms, calls for unified action grow louder.
Southwest governors have moved to secure borders amid surges in Kwara, but experts warn that without federal intervention, the terror wave could reach Lagos, endangering Nigeria’s economic hub.
The Canadian travel advisory highlights the ongoing threat of terrorism and kidnapping in these states, advising against non-essential travel.
Human rights lawyer Bar Ifeanyi Ejiofor criticized negotiations with terrorists, noting the irony of releasing 70 in Katsina while innocent detainees languish.
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As Nigeria grapples with this escalating crisis, Nefertiti’s wake-up call resonates: “Defenseless Yorubas must suffer what they must… That’s the price the innocents pay.”
Without decisive action, the Southwest’s security—and the nation’s stability—hangs in the balance.
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