Nigerian Army troops working with a state security outfit killed three suspected kidnappers and recovered a cache of weapons and ammunition in Kogi State on Wednesday, the military said, in a continuing offensive against armed criminal gangs in the central Nigerian state.
This was disclosed by Lieutenant Hassan Abdullahi, acting assistant director of army public relations for the 12 Composite Brigade, in a statement.
The operation took place in Igalamela/Odolu Local Government Area and followed earlier raids in the Edimogbo Forest, according to a statement from the 12 Composite Brigade, part of the newly established 5 Division of the Nigerian Army. Troops operated alongside personnel of the Kogi State Vigilance Service (KSVS).
The joint team extended its search from Edimogbo Forest toward the Obele forest area in pursuit of suspects who had fled the earlier raids, the army said.
Troops made contact with the suspected kidnappers, who tried to escape when they saw the security forces, the statement said. Three of the suspects were killed in the encounter.
A subsequent search of the area turned up four AK-47 rifles, 12 magazines, 336 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, three bandoliers and an identity card, the army said. It did not disclose whose name was on the card or identify the dead suspects. The claims could not be independently verified.
The army said the operation reflected continuous offensive action, intelligence-driven patrols and the clearing of identified hideouts. It said maintaining control of the area was aimed at denying kidnappers freedom of movement and restoring residents’ confidence.
Brigadier General Kasim Umar Sidi, commander of the 12 Composite Brigade, praised the troops and vigilance service members for their “resilience, professionalism and operational effectiveness,” according to the statement. He urged them to maintain the pressure and ensure that criminals have no safe havens within the brigade’s area of responsibility.
The army called on residents to continue giving security agencies credible and timely information to support ongoing operations.
Kidnapping for ransom remains a persistent security problem in parts of Nigeria, including Kogi, which borders the capital territory and sits along key road links between the north and south of the country.
