Troops The Nigerian Army has reported a series of successful operations against bandits in Kogi State as part of a new offensive to restore peace in the region.
The operation, code-named EGWUA A TITE II, began on September 1, 2025.
The Commander of 12 Brigade and Force Commander of Operation Accord III, Brigadier General Kasim Umar Sidi, personally led further exploitation missions, during which several bandit settlements were destroyed while troops maintained dominance of the area through patrols and ambushes.
According to a statement from Lieutenant Hassan Abdullahi, the Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations for the 12 Brigade, troops have so far neutralized at least nine bandits and rescued three kidnap victims.
According to Lt. Abdullahi, on September 1, troops from the 126 Battalion engaged bandits in the Tunga area, killing two of them.
On September 2, acting on credible intelligence, the troops with close air support from the 405 Helicopter Combat Training Group launched an offensive in Ankomi. The mission targeted fleeing bandits, with scores reportedly neutralized in the air raid.
The next day, September 3, clearance operations were carried out in Aleke, Ungwan Soni, and Ungwan Nyaba communities. During the exercise, troops successfully rescued one Mr. Pabo Suleiman and his two children, who have since been reunited with their family. Five locally made dane guns were also recovered.
Abdullahi added that arms and ammunition were recovered during operations in Lokoja, Kabba-Bunu, and Yagba West Local Government Areas of Kogi.
A major breakthrough was recorded on September 5 when troops engaged bandits in a gun battle at a hideout near Tunga. Intelligence reports confirmed that a notorious bandit commander, Kachalla Bala, and five of his fighters were neutralized in the encounter.
On the same day, an ambush operation along the Agbede–Adankoo Bridge, also known as Mosalanci Boka, led to the elimination of a bandit logistics courier. Recovered items included a motorcycle, two mobile phones, and an AK-47 magazine loaded with 20 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.
The Nigerian Army stated that these operations are part of a sustained effort to rid Kogi State of banditry and other security threats.
