Lokoja, Kogi State – The Nigeria Police Force has issued a high alert to all formations in Kwara and Kogi States following intelligence reports of a potential terrorist attack in the Omu-Aran area of Kwara State, with Yagba West in Kogi State also being a target.
According to directives from police commanders and Deputy Police Officers in Osun State, law enforcement agencies in the bordering regions are urged to remain on high alert.
Officers have been instructed to increase patrol operations and take preventive measures to stop any kidnappings within their areas of responsibility.
A police wireless message obtained by SaharaReporters on Monday placed all relevant commands on alert for the next 72 hours. The signal was issued by the Directorate of Operations from the Osun State Police Command and reads as follows:
“TERRORISTS ATTACK X INTREP MINE INDICATES THAT TERRORISTS ARE ASSEMBLING TO LAUNCH ATTACK IN THE NEXT 72HRS ON OMU-ARAN KWARA STATE TO YAGBA WEST AXIS OF WESTERN KOGI STATE X ALL AREA COMMANDERS/DPOS IN OSUN STATE ARE TO BE AT RED ALERT X ESPECIALLY THOSE SHARING BOUNDARIES WITH KWARA AND KOGI STATES X YOU ALL ARE FURTHER DIRECTED TO PUT YOUR PATROL TEAMS AT ALERT AND ENSURE NO KIDNAPPING TAKES PLACE IN YOUR RESPECTIVE AOR X TREAT AS VERY IMPORTANT PLEASE X.”
Kwara South has seen an increase in kidnapping incidents recently, with multiple cases reported. Last Thursday, gunmen attacked Oreke-Okegbo in the Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, leaving one person dead and another injured in a foiled kidnapping attempt.
Earlier this month, Chief Lukman Balogun, a vigilante commander known as “Jagun,” was killed by suspected Fulani herdsmen in the Igbaja community, also in Ifelodun Local Government Area, during a mission to rescue three abducted individuals. The kidnappers remain at large, with their victims still in captivity.