The Kogi State Vigilante Group have neutralised 11 bandits terrorizing part of the state, arrested others while three kidnapped victims have been rescued.
A statement signed by the state commissioner for Information and Communication, Kingsley Fanwo saidsecurity operatives acting on intelligence also arrested an officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Inspector Abdullahi Saidu who alongside a friend allegedly supplies the criminals with weapons and information to undertake their heinous crimes
It added that the successful operation by the security operatives was carried out in series working with credible intelligence.
The statement quoted a source within the Kogi State Vigilante Service saying “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”.
It also confirmed that five of the kidnappers arrested, including the civil defense operative are in the custody of the Department of State Security for further investigations.
Meanwhile, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Muhammed Onogwu, in a reaction noted that the success recorded 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.
According to the Chief Press Secretary, 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 are yielding remarkable results”.
“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.
Similarly, the statement added that security agencies are on the trail of kidnappers who were reported to have carried out attack on certain individuals in Kabba.
