By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
Security operatives in Kogi State have arrested eight suspects during coordinated bush-combing operations carried out across various parts of the state, the Kogi State Police Command has confirmed.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Saliu Oyiza Afusat, said the operation was part of sustained efforts by security agencies to deny criminal elements any safe haven within the state.
According to the statement, the arrests followed joint operations conducted by operatives of the Kogi State Police Command in collaboration with the Nigerian Army, local hunters and vigilante groups. The exercise targeted forested and hard-to-reach areas suspected to be used as hideouts by criminal groups.
“In line with this strategy, discovered bandit camps and hideouts were neutralised to prevent their reuse and deny criminal elements any operational comfort,” the PPRO said.
She explained that the ground operations were complemented by aerial surveillance, which enhanced situational awareness, enabled the tracking of suspicious movements and aided the identification of concealed criminal camps in remote locations.
Preliminary investigations, according to the police, suggest that some of the arrested suspects are allegedly informants providing support to kidnapping syndicates operating within forest areas in Kogi State.
The suspects are currently in police custody, while investigations are ongoing. The police said further action would be taken in line with the law upon the conclusion of investigations.
ASP Afusat reiterated the command’s commitment to sustaining the joint security operations, describing them as part of a comprehensive and proactive security architecture aimed at keeping criminal elements under constant pressure until they are completely dismantled.
She also assured residents of the state of the command’s resolve to continue working with other security agencies and local partners to improve public safety and security across Kogi State.
