Kogi security forces intercept arms cache, foil suspected retaliatory attack by criminal network

The Kogi State Government has announced the interception of a large cache of arms and ammunition allegedly destined for criminal elements, in what authorities described as a major security breakthrough that prevented a planned retaliatory attack within the state.

The operation, carried out through a coordinated effort involving local security operatives, Hybrid Forces under the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the Department of State Services (DSS), and the 12 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, led to the arrest of three suspects and the recovery of weapons believed to have been intended for bandit and kidnapping operations.

According to a statement issued on Monday by the Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, the suspects were apprehended in Sokoto State after being placed under covert surveillance for more than two weeks following intelligence reports on the movement of illegal arms.

The government said security agencies received credible intelligence indicating that a Golf 2 vehicle was being used to transport weapons and ammunition to criminal groups operating within and around Kogi State.

Acting on the information, security operatives coordinated efforts across state boundaries and worked closely with the Sokoto State Government and security agencies in the state to track the movement of the suspects.

The operation eventually resulted in the interception of the arms consignment and the impoundment of the vehicle in Kabba, headquarters of Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State.

Items recovered during the operation included two AK-47 rifles, several AK-47 magazines, 67 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, two pistols, 12 rounds of pistol ammunition, and military uniforms suspected to have been intended for use by criminal groups.

Authorities linked the intercepted weapons to efforts by criminal elements to replenish their stockpile following recent security operations that weakened their activities in parts of Kogi State.

The government disclosed that intelligence reports suggested the weapons were meant to support criminal groups that had suffered significant operational setbacks, particularly after the killing of notorious bandit leader Kachalla Battijo on June 10, 2026.

Battijo was reportedly neutralised during a failed attempt to abduct students of Government Secondary School, Iluke Bunu.

According to the statement, security agencies anticipated possible retaliatory attacks following the operation against the bandit leader and consequently intensified intelligence gathering, surveillance, and collaboration with security institutions across the country.

The government said available intelligence indicated that criminal groups hiding in forest locations across parts of the state were facing acute shortages of arms and ammunition due to sustained military and security operations.

It added that the syndicates had been making desperate efforts to acquire fresh supplies of weapons to regroup and resist ongoing security pressure.

“The successful interception of the arms consignment demonstrates that the government remains several steps ahead of those seeking to threaten the peace and security of Kogi State,” the statement said.

Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s administration described the operation as evidence of the effectiveness of intelligence-driven security measures adopted by the state in collaboration with federal security agencies.

The state government commended the local security forces, Hybrid Forces under ONSA, DSS personnel, and officers and men of the Nigerian Army’s 12 Brigade for their professionalism and coordination during the operation.

It also expressed appreciation to the Sokoto State Government and security agencies in Sokoto for their support, which contributed to the successful tracking and arrest of the suspects.

The government further acknowledged the role of National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in strengthening the country’s security architecture and supporting efforts to combat insecurity at the sub-national level.

While investigations into the arms trafficking network continue, residents were assured that there is no cause for alarm, as security agencies have intensified surveillance and operations across strategic locations in the state.
The government urged members of the public to remain vigilant and continue providing credible information to security agencies, stressing that sustained cooperation between citizens and law enforcement remains crucial to defeating criminality.

It reaffirmed its commitment to deploying intelligence gathering, technology, community engagement, and inter-agency collaboration to sustain recent gains recorded in the fight against banditry, kidnapping, and other security threats across Kogi State.