The Kogi State Government says it has recovered about 1,000 rustled livestock in a series of coordinated security operations targeting remnants of the criminal network of the late bandit kingpin, Kachalla Ibrahim Battijo, and other cattle-rustling syndicates operating within the state and across the North Central region.
The operations were carried out jointly by the 12 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Hybrid Forces from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force, local vigilantes and hunters.
According to the state government, more than 200 of the recovered livestock were traced to Battijo’s criminal network, while the remaining animals were recovered from other armed bandits involved in cattle rustling across Kogi State and neighbouring states.
The stolen livestock were reportedly being moved through Kogi State for sale to finance further criminal activities.
A statement by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, attributed the success of the operations to credible and timely intelligence that enabled security agencies to track the movement of the criminals and launch coordinated offensives before the livestock could be sold.
Fanwo explained that intelligence reports indicated the bandits planned to use proceeds from the sale of the rustled livestock to procure arms, food supplies and other logistics.
He noted that acting on the intelligence, security operatives engaged the criminals in fierce gun battles at several locations.
He said several bandits were neutralised during the operations, while others fled with gunshot wounds, abandoning the stolen livestock in an attempt to escape the superior firepower of security personnel. He added that those who escaped are being actively tracked.
The commissioner noted that the remnants of Battijo’s gang have become increasingly desperate following the elimination of their leader, as sustained security operations continue to dismantle their network and deny them freedom to operate and access to logistics within Kogi State.
“I can confirm that many of the flies that chose to follow the corpse to the grave have now been buried alongside it, while those who escaped with varying degrees of bullet wounds are being actively tracked by our security forces. They will not escape justice,” Fanwo stated.
He disclosed that the recovered livestock are being kept in a secure location in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area pending the identification of their rightful owners for prompt return.
Fanwo commended the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Chief of Army Staff, the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the Department of State Services, as well as the military, police, local vigilantes and hunters for their professionalism, courage and effective collaboration, describing the operation as another major breakthrough in the fight against criminality.
“Our feet will remain firmly on the pedals until we rid Kogi State of criminal elements and restore the confidence of our people to sleep with both eyes closed,” he said.
The commissioner reaffirmed the commitment of the Kogi State Government to sustaining the ongoing offensive against criminality, noting that the administration would continue to maximise the security support provided by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to safeguard lives and property.
He also urged residents to continue to provide timely and credible intelligence to security agencies, assuring them that all useful information would be treated with strict confidentiality and acted upon promptly.
He stressed that security remains a collective responsibility and reiterated the government’s resolve to keep Kogi State safe for all law-abiding citizens.
