ABUJA — A Christian priest recently released from captivity has provided a harrowing account of his ordeal, revealing that his Fulani abductors claimed to have established permanent bases in forests across Southern Nigeria to enforce a territorial agenda.
The cleric’s testimony mirrors the long-standing warnings of former Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, who has frequently alleged that extremist groups are strategically occupying ancestral lands to displace indigenous populations and claim national ownership.
Forest Occupation
The priest, who was abducted by suspected Fulani militants, stated that his captors boasted of being well-entrenched in the forests along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and other parts of the South. According to the cleric, the gunmen claimed that “Nigeria belongs to them” and that their presence in these strategic locations was part of a broader plan to exert control over the country’s landmass.
The revelations highlight the growing vulnerability of the nation’s highways, particularly the Lagos-Ibadan corridor, which has seen a surge in ransom-driven abductions targeting travellers and religious leaders alike.
Systematic Targeting of Clergy
The abduction of the priest is the latest in a string of attacks on Christian leaders. Data from 2025 indicates that the Christian community lost several leaders to kidnappers, with many more remaining in captivity as militants demand exorbitant ransoms.
Rights groups have expressed concern that these abductions are part of a systematic campaign aimed at intimidating religious institutions.
Military and Police Response
While the Defence Minister, General Christopher Musa (Rtd), has assured the public that the military is dismantling bandit networks in the North, forest hideouts in the South present a unique challenge. Security agencies in Edo, Enugu, and Ogun have intensified patrols to dislodge these “mobile armouries” and forest camps.
General Musa recently emphasized that public cooperation and the reporting of suspicious activities in rural areas are critical to ending the culture of impunity.
