Kogi Security Forces Recover 1,000 Stolen Animals

The Kogi State Government, working with the 12 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Hybrid Forces from the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Police Force, and local vigilantes and hunters, has recovered about 1,000 rustled animals during ongoing security operations across the state.

These operations focused on the remaining members of the criminal group of the late bandit leader, Kachalla Ibrahim Battijo, and other cattle-rustling gangs operating in Kogi State and around the North-Central area.

Among the recovered livestock, over 200 were linked to Battijo's gang, while the rest were found with other armed bandits involved in cattle rustling in Kogi and nearby states.

The criminals had tried to move the stolen livestock through Kogi State to sell them and fund their illegal activities.

In a statement released on Saturday, the Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, said the success of the security forces was due to reliable and timely information received from various security agencies involved in the operations.

He mentioned that this information helped operatives track the bandits' movements and launch coordinated attacks before the stolen animals could reach their destinations.

Fanwo explained that the intelligence showed that the criminal groups aimed to sell the rustled livestock to raise money for buying weapons, food, and other supplies.

"Acting quickly on the intelligence, security operatives faced the bandits in intense gun battles at different spots. Many of the criminals were taken down, while others fled with various injuries, leaving behind the stolen livestock as they ran from the stronger firepower of the security forces. Those who ran are still being pursued," he said.

Fanwo noted that the remaining members of Battijo's gang are becoming more desperate after losing their leader. Ongoing security operations are breaking down their network, limiting their activities in Kogi State, and cutting off their supplies.

"I can confirm that many of those who chose to follow the corpse to the grave have now been buried alongside it, while those who escaped with injuries are being actively pursued by our security forces. They will not avoid justice," he stated.

He added that the recovered livestock are being kept in a secure location in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area while efforts are underway to identify their rightful owners and return them quickly.

The Commissioner praised the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Chief of Army Staff, the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the Department of State Services, as well as the military, police, local vigilantes, and hunters for their professionalism and teamwork, calling the operation a major achievement in the state's fight against crime.

"We will keep our focus until we eliminate criminal activities in Kogi State and restore our people's peace of mind so they can sleep soundly," he said.

Fanwo reaffirmed the Kogi State Government's commitment to continuing the fight against crime, emphasizing that the administration would keep using the security support from President Bola Tinubu to protect lives and property.

"As a government, we will keep making the best use of the security resources provided by President Bola Tinubu to combat crime. The President has shown strong dedication to improving national security, and Kogi State is already seeing significant benefits from this partnership. We will not stop until every part of our state is secure for our people," he said.

The state government also urged residents to keep assisting security agencies with timely and reliable information, promising that all useful information would be treated confidentially and acted upon swiftly.

It emphasized that security is a shared responsibility and reaffirmed its determination to make Kogi State unsafe for criminals and safe for all law-abiding citizens.