The Nigeria Police Force has placed security agencies in Kogi State on a high alert following its intelligence indicating a mass movement of bandits into parts of Kogi East, Kogi State.
This is according to an internal police wireless message obtained by SaharaReporters on Saturday.
The intelligence, shared by the State Intelligence Department (SID) in Lokoja, revealed that a large number of armed bandits fleeing ongoing military operations in Kwara and Niger States have migrated into forested areas around Bassa and Anyigba/Ochaja.
According to the signal, the bandits — some reportedly dressed in military uniforms — are heavily armed with AK-47 rifles and other sophisticated weapons.
The police memo warns that intelligence sources have identified several high-risk targets for possible attacks.
They include: "Ochaja Boys and Girls Secondary Schools; Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba; Banks across Kogi East; Police stations and worship centres."
The classified communication further stressed that the bandits may attempt coordinated assaults on critical public institutions 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"
Accoedign 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.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Tosin Adeola Ajayi, on Friday night met with President Bola Tinubu to provide an update on the nation’s security situation.
The development was disclosed by Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, who confirmed that the closed-door briefing took place at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Although details of the meeting were not made public, Onanuga said the DSS boss presented a comprehensive assessment of current security challenges and ongoing counter-measures across the country.
According to him, the briefing was part of the administration’s routine engagements with security chiefs as the government intensifies efforts to curb banditry, terrorism and other emerging threats.
Friday’s meeting comes amid renewed concerns over attacks in several states and growing calls for stronger federal intervention.
SaharaReporters reported on Friday that President Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government had said that it was not denying the scale of killings across the country but is taking "significant steps" to address security challenges in Nigeria.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, who stated this while featuring on Channels Television’s programme on Friday night, said “Yes, we have people being killed, no doubt about that, and the government is not shying away or denying this."
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