By BANNERNEWS Reporter
Operatives of the Kogi State Police Command have arrested eight suspects during a coordinated security operation targeting forested and remote areas suspected to be criminal hideouts across the state.
The operation, carried out on Thursday, involved intensive bush-combing exercises in identified flashpoints believed to be vulnerable to criminal exploitation. Some alleged informants linked to criminal gangs were also picked up during the exercise.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Saliu Oyiza Afusat, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday in Lokoja.
According to the statement, the operation was conducted in collaboration with the Nigerian Army, local hunters and vigilante groups as part of sustained, intelligence-driven efforts to dismantle criminal networks in the state.
The police said ground operations were complemented with aerial surveillance, which enhanced situational awareness, enabled the tracking of suspicious movements and aided the identification of concealed criminal camps.
“Discovered bandit hideouts were neutralised to prevent their reuse and deny criminal elements any operational comfort,” the statement said, adding that many suspects fled their enclaves on sighting the overwhelming security presence.
Eight suspects were arrested at different locations and are currently in custody for questioning, with preliminary investigations indicating that some may be informants aiding kidnapping syndicates operating in the area.
The command assured that investigations are ongoing and that appropriate legal action will be taken upon conclusion of the process.
Police authorities said the areas covered during the operation have remained calm, with sustained security presence to reassure residents and prevent any breach of peace.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Naziru Bello Kankarofi, reaffirmed the command’s resolve to maintain firm control of the security situation, urging residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities.
