KOGI ON HIGH ALERT AS POLICE ISSUE URGENT SECURITY WARNING AS INTELLIGENCE CONFIRMS MASS INFLUX OF ARMED BANDITS INTO KOGI EAST

The Nigeria Police Force has placed all security formations in Kogi State on heightened alert following fresh intelligence indicating a mass movement of armed bandits into parts of Kogi East.

This development is contained in an internal police wireless message obtained on Saturday, detailing credible intelligence from the State Intelligence Department (SID) in Lokoja.

According to the report, a large number of heavily armed bandits fleeing intensified military operations in Kwara and Niger States have now relocated into forest belts around Bassa and the Anyigba/Ochaja axis.

The intelligence signal warns that these bandits with some reportedly disguised in military uniforms are armed with AK-47 rifles and other sophisticated weapons. It further reveals that security sources have identified several sensitive locations as potential targets for coordinated attacks.

Among the targets listed in the memo are: “Ochaja Boys and Girls Secondary Schools; Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba; Banks across Kogi East; Police stations and worship centres.”

The classified document underscores fears that the armed groups may launch simultaneous assaults on public institutions, financial establishments, and security facilities across the senatorial district.

Part of the police signal reads:

“AC INT X INTREP X INFLUX OF BANDITS TO KOGI EAST SENATORIAL DISTRICT X INTELLIGENCE AVAILABLE AT THE DEPARTMENT’S DISPOSAL REVEALED THAT X LARGE NUMBER OF BANDITS HAVE MIGRATED INTO FORESTS WITHIN BASSA AND ANYIGBA/OCHAJA AXES X DUE TO THE ONGOING ONSLAUGHT ON THEM BY SECURITY OPERATIVES IN KWARA/NIGER STATES X”

It continues:

“SOURCE DISCLOSED THAT THE HOODLUMS MAIN TARGETS ARE PUBLIC PLACES SUCH AS OCHAJA BOYS/GIRLS SECONDARY SCHOOLS X PRINCE ABUBAKAR AUDU UNIVERSITY ANYIGBA X BANKS I POLICE STATIONS AND WORSHIP CENTRES ACROSS KOGI EAST X IT IS FURTHER REVEALED THAT X THE HOODLUMS WHO ARE IN MILITARY UNIFORMS ARE WELL ARMED WITH SOPHISTICATED WEAPONS SUCH AK-47/MILITARY RIFLES X”

Furthermore, the memo instructs:

“IN LIGHT OF THE ABOVE X EYE SUGGEST THAT X ACPOL ANYIGBA/SUPOLs BASSA X DEKINA X ANYIGBA X AND EGUME BE INTIMATED TO FORTIFY STATIONS X QUR/PMF PERSONNEL BE DRAFTED TO THE AREA X STOP AND SEARCH/PATROLS BE INTENSIFIED ALONG THE MAJOR ROADS WITHIN THE AREA X MEANWHILE X SURVEILLANCE/INTELLIGENCE IS SUSTAINED X ABOVE FOR YOUR INFORMATION PLEASE XXXXXX ACPOLSID LOKOJA”

Following this intelligence, the State Intelligence Department has recommended urgent and aggressive security measures, including:

– “Immediate briefing of all Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) in Anyigba, Bassa, Dekina and Egume.

– Deployment of additional Quick Response Unit (QRU) and Police Mobile Force (PMF) personnel to vulnerable locations.

– Intensified stop-and-search operations along major roads in the senatorial district.

– Heightened patrols, surveillance and intelligence gathering across affected communities.”

The memo also emphasizes the need to fortify all police stations within the threatened axis to guard against possible surprise attacks.

The development comes amid increasing national anxiety over escalating insecurity.

On Friday night, the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Tosin Adeola Ajayi, met with President Bola Tinubu to provide an update on the country’s security situation. The briefing, confirmed by Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, was held behind closed doors at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Although details were not disclosed, the DSS boss reportedly provided a thorough assessment of ongoing threats and counter-measures. The meeting is part of the administration’s routine engagements with security chiefs as efforts intensify to curb banditry, terrorism, and emerging security challenges.

It also follows the government’s recent acknowledgment of the deteriorating security situation. The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, stated during a televised interview on Friday night that while the administration recognizes the scale of killings across Nigeria, it is taking “significant steps” to address the crisis.

“Yes, we have people being killed, no doubt about that, and the government is not shying away or denying this,” he said.

As security agencies implement the newly issued directives, residents of Kogi East have been urged to remain vigilant and cooperate fully with law enforcement as efforts intensify to counter the looming threat.