Kogiflame
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has placed all security formations in Kogi State on heightened alert following intelligence reports indicating a mass movement of armed bandits into Kogi East.
An internal police wireless message, obtained by SaharaReporters and sighted on Saturday, revealed that the State Intelligence Department (SID) in Lokoja reported a significant migration of bandits fleeing intensified military operations in Kwara and Niger states.
According to the intelligence, the armed groups have now settled in thick forest belts around Bassa and the Anyigba/Ochaja axis.
The report noted that several of the bandits were spotted wearing military uniforms and carrying AK-47 rifles alongside other sophisticated weapons.
The memo describes the situation as a “credible threat,” necessitating immediate escalation of security surveillance and rapid response readiness across Kogi East.
Intelligence sources identified multiple locations that may be targeted for coordinated attacks.
According to the police signal, possible targets include:
Ochaja Boys and Girls Secondary Schools
Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba
Commercial banks across Kogi East
Police stations
Churches and other worship centres
The classified communication warned that the bandits may attempt simultaneous assaults on public institutions, economic targets, and security facilities.
The police signal reads, “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”
According to the memo, the State Intelligence Department has recommended a series of urgent security measures. These include: “Immediate briefing of all Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) in Anyigba, Bassa, Dekina and Egume.
“Deployment of additional Quick Response Unit (QRU) and Police Mobile Force (PMF) personnel to vulnerable locations. Intensified stop-and-search operations along major roads in the senatorial district.
“Heightened patrols, surveillance and intelligence gathering across affected communities.”
The message emphasised the need to fortify all police stations within the threatened axis to prevent surprise attacks.
Source
