The Nigeria Police Force has announced a significant victory in its fight against terrorism and banditry in the North Central region, with the rescue of over three hundred hostages and the arrest of more than a hundred suspects.
Major Security Operation Yields Results
In a coordinated offensive across Kogi and Kwara states, security forces successfully rescued 309 hostages from criminal enclaves. The operation, which culminated in recent days, also led to the arrest of 129 suspected terrorists. According to Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, who spoke on Channels Television's Politics Today on Tuesday, 55 other terrorists were neutralised during armed confrontations with operatives.
Hundeyin firmly addressed claims of extrajudicial killings, stating that the fatalities occurred during legitimate firefights. "I can confirm that 129 of these terrorists were arrested and 55 were neutralised. I am talking about Kogi and Kwara. These were firefights," he explained. He emphasized that those killed had refused to surrender and chose to engage security forces violently, even after some of their associates had been captured.
Multi-Agency Collaboration and Tactical Execution
The success is attributed to months of intelligence gathering and meticulous planning involving multiple security agencies. The operation featured a combined force of various police units, including:
- The Police Mobile Force
- The Intelligence Response Team (IRT)
- The Special Intervention Squad
- The Police Air Wing
These units worked in tandem with the military and other agencies. Hundeyin highlighted the effective synergy between ground troops and aerial support, which maintained constant communication throughout the offensive. Remarkably, no casualties were recorded among security operatives.
He described the operational terrain as heavily forested, difficult, and largely inaccessible by road, noting that operatives had been deployed in the area for several months to gain tactical advantage.
An Ongoing Battle Against Insurgency
The police have assured Nigerians that this is not a one-off event but part of a sustained campaign. Hundeyin declared that the operation is ongoing and will continue in the coming days, signaling a relentless push against criminal elements. "We are taking this battle to every identified enclave of bandits and terrorists. This is just the beginning," he stated.
This major operation underscores the continued efforts of the Nigeria Police Force and sister agencies to restore security and dismantle terrorist networks in the region, bringing hope to communities plagued by kidnappings and violence.
