Scores Of Bandits Killed, Others Dislodged From Kogi Forests — Police

The Kogi State Police Command said it has successfully neutralised scores of bandits, dislodged their network and flushed others out of forests in the ongoing operations by the joint team of police and military operatives.

The Police said the operation was supported by the Nigeria Police Force Airwing component.

Kogi State, particularly, the western senatorial district, has come under heavy attacks by bandits, suspected to have been displaced from neighbouring states, which share boundaries with the state.

Several persons have been Kidnapped, millions of ransom allegedly paid in some instances, while other victims who were not too lucky died in captivity.

However the State governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, has consistently reiterated his commitment to the fight against insecurity in the state, stressing that his administration will never negotiate with any terrorist or criminal elements, ruling out possible payment of ransom.

Meanwhile, in statement by the Kogi State Police Command’s spokesman, CSP William Ovye Aya, on Sunday in Lokoja, he said the ongoing onslaught against bandit operations in the State by the joint police and military team has yielded fruitful results.

“Bandits were flushed out, their networks dislodged, and scores were neutralised,” CSP Aya said

According to him, the operation, which is being carried out with vigour, commitment, and utmost professionalism, and supported by the Nigeria Police Force Airwing components through precision air strikes, led to these successes.

“The command uses this medium to alert the public to be on the lookout for anyone seen around with bullet wounds, injuries, and suspicious behaviour and to report such to the nearest police station.

“The public is urged to support the ongoing operations with credible information about criminal elements seen around the neighbourhood,” he stated.

Aya, while giving the command Control Room Numbers, to call in the event of any distress, as 07038329084, 08152195982, noted that security is a shared responsibility, “together we can make Nigeria better. He concluded

CSP Aya was, however, silent on the actual locations, where the operations were carried out.