• Death toll of bandits in Plateau rises to 21
• Kogi gov unveils quick response squad to tackle insecurity

Troops of 6 Brigade, Nigerian Army, have neutralised no fewer than five violent extremists in Taraba State.

Making the announcement, yesterday, via the Army’s official X handle, the move, according to the brigade, effectively thwarted their kidnapping attempts, as a significant cache of arms and ammunition were confirmed seized from them.

Meanwhile, three more bandits have been confirmed killed during a security operation in Wase Local Council of Plateau State on Monday, pushing the death toll to 21.

In Kogi State, Governor Ahmed Ododo has launched a security initiative to tame the upsurge of criminal activities in Lokoja and other major towns in the state.

The Army also revealed that the operation was conducted based on actionable intelligence regarding the extremists’ plans to abduct church members returning from a programme in Wukari along the Tor-Tse and Takum road.

“Troops from the 93 Battalion, deployed in Wukari, promptly responded to the threat, strategically positioning themselves to intercept the violent extremists,” it stated.

During the encounter in the early hours of Tuesday, the troops, according to the brigade, engaged the extremists in a fierce firefight, resulting in the neutralisation of four assailants and recovery of two AK-47 rifles, one pump-action rifle, and two AK-47 magazines.

“Additionally, during a patrol on March 27, 2024, in the Chanchanji Ward of Takum Local Council, the troops encountered suspected violent extremists. Responding with superior firepower, one assailant was killed, and authorities recovered a locally fabricated FN pistol, two rounds of 9mm ammunition and a mobile phone belonging to the criminal.”

DURING Monday’s operation in Plateau, some guns were recovered from the neutralised bandits, with others seriously wounded.

According to sources in Wase, the security operatives took the criminals unawares while they were holding a meeting in the bush.

A witness, Mamman Jubrin, told The Guardian that three of those who received deep injuries later died yesterday.

On Monday, 18 bandits were reportedly killed while many guns were recovered during the raid by security operatives and local vigilantes in Zurak community of Wase town.

Sources said 18 bandits were killed instantly alongside their informants, including some traditional rulers who were believed to have sold out for the pittance they always received from the bandits.

THE Kogi government’s new operation, codenamed Metropolitan Quick Response (MQR), is in partnership with the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the joint task force of security agencies in the state.

At the flag-off of the initiative at the Government House, Lokoja, Ododo restated the commitment of his administration to deal decisively with criminals in the state.

The governor noted that the security of life and property in Kogi remains a top priority for his administration, stressing that nothing would be spared to ensure a conducive living environment.

He stated: “Today, we are flagging off MQR to advance our efforts in the security of lives and property in Lokoja metropolis and beyond.

“The flag-off is part of the evolving security measures to ensure we have a safe environment and to build on the solid foundation of our security architecture in the state. As a government, we are determined to flush out criminal elements in every nook and cranny of Kogi.”