Police Alert as Intelligence Links Influx of Armed Bandits to Possible Attacks in Kogi East
By Queen Madaki — Lokoja, Kogi State
Nigeria News Today — The Bureau News: Security agencies in Kogi State have been placed on high alert following intelligence reports indicating a mass movement of heavily armed bandits into forested areas around Bassa, Anyigba and Ochaja.
The development was contained in a classified police wireless message obtained by SaharaReporters, which originated from the State Intelligence Department (SID) in Lokoja. According to the document, the bandits — some reportedly dressed in military uniforms — are armed with AK-47 rifles and other sophisticated weapons and are believed to be fleeing sustained military operations in Kwara and Niger States.
Police Identify Schools, University, Banks and Worship Centres as High-Risk Targets
The intelligence further warned that the criminal group may attempt coordinated assaults on several public institutions, including:
- Ochaja Boys and Girls Secondary Schools
- Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba
- Banks across Kogi East
- Police stations
- Worship centres
The police signal noted that the bandits had already positioned themselves within forest corridors in Bassa and the Anyigba/Ochaja axis, prompting urgent directives to fortify police divisions and intensify patrol operations.
Full Police Wireless Signal
“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
“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
“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”
Police Recommend Urgent Counter-Measures
According to the memo, the State Intelligence Department has urged immediate action, including:
- Briefing all Divisional Police Officers in Anyigba, Bassa, Dekina and Egume
- Deploying additional Quick Response Unit (QRU) and Police Mobile Force (PMF) personnel to vulnerable areas
- Intensified stop-and-search operations along major roads
- Heightened patrols and surveillance across threatened communities
- Fortification of all police stations in the potential target zones
DSS Boss Briefs President Tinubu Amid Nationwide Security Concerns
The Bureau News reports that the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Tosin Adeola Ajayi, met with President Bola Tinubu on Friday night to present an updated security assessment. The briefing came as several states experience renewed attacks and rising pressure for stronger federal intervention.
Presidential spokesman, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, confirmed the meeting, noting that the President received a comprehensive review of emerging threats and counter-measures currently underway.
Federal Government Acknowledges Worsening Killings
In a related development, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the government is not denying the scale of killings across the country. Speaking on Channels Television, he stated:
“Yes, we have people being killed, no doubt about that, and the government is not shying away or denying this.”
The Bureau News will continue to monitor the situation as more security reinforcements are expected across the affected corridors.
