How Soldiers foiled terrorists, thugs’ attempt to disrupt elections in Kogi -DHQ

Being a flashpoint for thugs and terrorists operations, the Defence Headquarters on Thursday revealed that its troops on operations in Kogi State stopped planned attack by thugs and terrorists on election day.

The DHQ said had the troops not intervened, the presidential and parliamentary polls which was conducted on February 25 would have been disrupted.

The same thing also happened in Borno State which the military high command said terrorists planned to attack some locations in Kauwa, Gamboru, and Monguno, but the troops carried out an air raid in the location following an intelligence report.

Speaking during the biweekly briefing in Abuja, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Musa Danmadami noted that troops on patrol in Okehi town in Okenne Local Government Council of Kogi State on February 25 arrested 8 political thugs while attempting to disrupt the electoral process.

In Borno, he said, “Notably, on February 24, 2023, an intelligent report revealed terrorist convergence with plans to attack some locations in Kauwa, Gamboru, and Monguno in Borno state in a bid to disrupt the 2023 general elections.

“Consequently, a series of air interdiction operations were carried out at these identified locations. Feedback revealed that the airstrike dealt with terrorists, as several terrorists were neutralized with their logistics destroyed.

“Troops on patrol at Okehi town in Okenne Local Government Area of Kogi State on 25 February 2023, troops arrested 8 political thugs in an attempt to disrupt the electoral process. Troops recovered 3 pump action guns, 2 locally fabricated AK 47 rifles, 6 locally made assorted guns, and 2 daggers.”

He said troops in Operation Hadin Kai in the North East and Hadarin Daji neutralized 21 terrorists, arrested 35 terrorist logistics suppliers and rescued 36 civilians while a total of 1,332 terrorists and their family members comprising 222 males, 411 females, and 699 children surrendered at different locations within the theatre of operations.