Kogi: 11 bandits gunned down as NSCDC personnel arms supplier arrested

Bandits terrorizing some parts of Kogi Local Government Area of Kogi State have met their waterloo as officers of the State Vigilante Group killed 11 of them and arrested others while 3 kidnapped victims were rescued successfully.

Security operatives acting on intelligence, nabbed an officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, Inspector Abdullahi Saidu who alongside a friend supplies the criminals with weapons and information to undertake their heinous crimes.

In a release which was signed by the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Kingsley Fanwo which was made available to journalists on Monday said, the successful operation by the security operatives was carried out in series working with credible intelligence.

A source within the Kogi State Vigilante Service had this to say: ”Alaidi is their ring leader. He was killed during the first camp attack. Rabo and seven others were crushed. Madei and one other were killed in the second kidnappers’ camp while Umar escaped with gunshot injuries but was recaptured”.

They also confirmed that five of the kidnappers arrestsd, including the civil defense operative were in the custody of the Department of State Security for further investigations.

Reacting the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Muhammed Onogwu noted that such security success by the operatives was a welcome development and a proof that the security architecture of Kogi State was strong and solid enough to quash all forms of criminal vices.

He opined that the Local Vigilantes across the state have continued to record good results because of the morale boost and support the Governor has continued to give as well as the cooperation from the citizens and synergy between the security operatives.

Onogwu noted that the continued efforts of the Kogi State Government to keep the momentum as the safest state in the country were so far yielding remarkable results noting that the Governor has severally made a commitment to securing the lives and property of the citizens and make the state a no go zone for criminal elements.

He reiterated that Government at all levels would continue to make efforts towards sustaining the drive for a peaceful Kogi state by making every nooks and cranny of the state unsafe for criminal elements and their sponsors.
In the same vein, security agencies are on the trail of kidnappers who were reported to have carried out attack on certain individuals in Kabba.

The State Government said it is in touch with security agencies and that the Governor already gave a marching order that those kidnapped must be rescued and the perpetrators apprehended.
A source within the Kogi State Security circles who doesn’t want his name in print said they are getting “encouraging headway” in their operations against the kidnappers.