Security operatives in Kogi State have recorded a major breakthrough in the ongoing offensive against armed gangs with several bandits reportedly neutralised and their networks taken apart across undisclosed locations.
The spokesman for the Kogi State Police Command William Aya disclosed the development in a statement on Sunday noting that the coordinated operation was undertaken by combined police and military units reinforced by aerial support from the Nigeria Police Force Air Wing.
According to him “the ongoing onslaught against bandit operations in Kogi State by the joint police and military has yielded fruitful results.
Bandits were flushed out their networks dislodged and scores were neutralised.”
Aya said the mission was executed with “vigour commitment and utmost professionalism” adding that precision air strikes were deployed to great effect.
The Command appealed to residents to remain alert and report individuals with suspicious wounds or behaviour to security agencies.
“Security is a shared responsibility. Together we can make Nigeria better” Aya added urging residents to assist with reliable intelligence that could disrupt criminal groups hiding in communities.
He also circulated distress numbers 07038329084 and 08152195982 for citizens to report suspected movements anywhere across the state.
Recent months have seen heightened bandit attacks in parts of Kogi including abductions and deadly raids on worship centres.
In October and November two churches suffered armed invasions prompting the Obaro of Kabba Oba Solomon Owoniyi in conjunction with the Christian Association of Nigeria to suspend religious gatherings as a precaution.
On Saturday panic gripped residents of Zango in Lokoja following gunfire and the abduction of four members of one family.
An elderly woman and a child taken in the same attack were later freed.