The Kogi State Police Command says a fresh joint security operation has dealt a major blow to bandit groups operating in the state, with several suspects neutralised and their criminal networks dismantled.
In a statement released on Sunday, the Police Public Relations Officer, William Aya, said the success was recorded during an ongoing operation involving the police and the military, with aerial support from the Nigeria Police Force Air Wing. While the exact location of the operation was not disclosed, the command described the exercise as decisive and well-coordinated.
According to Aya, the joint forces flushed bandits out of their hideouts, dislodged their networks and neutralised many of them through sustained ground action and precision air strikes. He noted that the operation was carried out with professionalism, commitment and intensity, stressing that security agencies remain determined to rid the state of criminal elements.
The police spokesperson urged residents to remain vigilant and to report anyone seen with gunshot wounds, suspicious injuries or strange movements to the nearest police station. He also appealed to members of the public to support the operation by sharing credible intelligence about criminal activities in their communities.
“Security is a shared responsibility. Together, we can make Nigeria better,” Aya said, while releasing the command’s control room numbers — 07038329084 and 08152195982 — for reporting suspicious activities across the state.
The development comes amid growing security concerns in Kogi, where bandit attacks have intensified in recent months. Between October and December, two churches were attacked, forcing the Obaro of Kabba, Oba Solomon Owoniyi, in collaboration with the Christian Association of Nigeria in Kabba, to suspend all religious activities in the area.
Just last Saturday, residents of Zango in Lokoja reported sporadic gunshots, after which four members of the same family were kidnapped. An elderly woman and a child were later abandoned by the fleeing suspects, further heightening fears among residents.
Security agencies say operations will continue until criminal elements are completely rooted out of the state.
