By Soni Daniel
Kogi State Government, in collaboration with federal and local security forces, has recovered no fewer than 1000 livestock from bandits.
The successful operation was carried out in conjunction with the 12 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Hybrid Forces from the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Police Force, local vigilantes and hunters.
The security operation targeted the remnants of the criminal network of the late bandit kingpin, Kachalla Ibrahim Battijo, and other cattle-rustling syndicates operating within Kogi State and across the North Central region.
The recovered livestock include no fewer than 200 traced to the criminal network of the late Battijo, while the remaining animals were recovered from other armed bandits engaged in cattle rustling across Kogi State and neighbouring states.
The criminals had attempted to move the stolen livestock through Kogi State for sale to finance their criminal activities.
Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Kingsley Fanwo, confirmed in a statement to Vanguard on Saturday that the successes were made possible by credible and timely intelligence received and acted upon by the various security agencies involved in the operations.
Fanwo noted that ntelligence enabled the operatives to track the movement of the bandits and launch coordinated offensives before the stolen livestock could be taken to their intended destinations.
According to him, the intelligence revealed that the criminal groups planned to sell the rustled livestock to raise funds for the procurement of arms, food supplies and other logistics.
Acting swiftly on the intelligence, security operatives engaged the bandits in fierce gun battles at different locations.
Several of the criminals were neutralised, while others fled with varying degrees of bullet wounds, abandoning the rustled livestock in their desperate attempt to escape the superior firepower of the security forces. Those who escaped are currently being trailed.
Fanwo said the remnants of Battijo’s gang had become increasingly desperate following the elimination of their kingpin as sustained security operations continue to dismantle their network and deny them freedom of operation within Kogi State as well as access to logistics.
“I can confirm that many of the flies that chose to follow the corpse to the grave have now been buried alongside it, while those who escaped with varying degrees of bullet wounds are being actively tracked by our security forces. They will not escape justice,” he said.
He disclosed that the recovered livestock are currently being kept in a secure location in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area while arrangements are being made to identify their rightful owners and ensure their prompt return.
The Commissioner commended the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Chief of Army Staff, the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the Department of State Services, as well as the military, the police, local vigilantes and hunters for their professionalism, bravery and seamless collaboration, describing the operation as another major milestone in the state’s sustained war against criminality.
“Our feet will remain firmly on the pedals until we rid Kogi State of criminal elements and restore the confidence of our people to sleep with both eyes closed,” he stated.
Fanwo reiterated the commitment of the Kogi State Government to sustaining the ongoing offensive against criminality, stressing that the administration would continue to maximise the security support provided by President Bola Tinubu to safeguard lives and property.
“As a Government, we will continue to make the best use of the security resources and support provided by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to tackle criminality. The President has demonstrated strong commitment to improving national security, and Kogi State is already recording significant gains through this collaboration. We will not relent until every part of our state is safe for our people,” he said.
The state government also urged residents to continue supporting security agencies with timely and credible intelligence, assuring them that all useful information would be treated with utmost confidentiality and acted upon promptly.
It reiterated that security remains a collective responsibility and reaffirmed its resolve to ensure that Kogi State remains hostile to criminals and safe for all law-abiding citizens.
