The Kogi State Police Command has conducted a joint bush clearance operation targeting forest corridors linking the Kabba/Bunu, Obajana and Lokoja axis, as part of its ongoing campaign to deny criminal elements access to hideouts across the state.
According to ASP Saliu Oyiza Afusat, Police Public Relations Officer, Kogi State Police Command, the operation was carried out on August 20, 2026, at about 7:00 a.m., in compliance with directives from the Commissioner of Police, Kogi State Command, CP Naziru Bello Kankarofi, who had ordered an intensification of bush clearance efforts to sustain pressure on criminal groups hiding in remote forest locations.
The exercise brought together officers and personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, the military, local vigilante groups and other auxiliary forces. The joint team moved through the Daji 2 Forest Zone, a strategic corridor connecting Kabba/Bunu, Obajana and Lokoja, in an operation that police say demonstrated strong coordination among the participating units.
During the sweep, security operatives identified and cleared an abandoned settlement within the forest that had previously been suspected of serving as a hideout and staging point for criminal activity.
The team subsequently advanced to Amos Camp, another abandoned hideout situated in difficult terrain marked by creeks and mountainous features. Despite the challenging environment, operatives successfully navigated the area and carried out a thorough clearance of the camp and surrounding forest paths.
Signs of recent movement were observed along routes leading toward the Oyo Forest axis of Obajana, suggesting that criminal elements had fled the area ahead of the advancing security presence.
According to police, the operation has significantly boosted the confidence of farmers and residents in the affected communities, with many already returning to their farmlands and daily activities, encouraged by the visible security presence.
The Kabba Area Command and other security formations in the area say they are maintaining a calm and stable security atmosphere, with patrols, intelligence gathering and bush clearance operations continuing across other identified locations. Police noted that similar coordinated operations are ongoing in various parts of Kogi State as part of a broader, continuous strategy to flush out criminal elements from known hideouts.
CP Naziru Bello Kankarofi commended the personnel and members of the collaborating security and community-based forces for their courage, resilience and teamwork, particularly in navigating difficult terrain while maintaining operational momentum.
He reassured residents, especially farmers, that the Command remains fully committed to sustaining these efforts, strengthening community confidence, and ensuring a safe environment for legitimate economic activities across the state.
