Troops Eliminate Bandits, Rescue Hostages in Major Operations Across Kogi
In a decisive push to rid Kogi State of banditry and related security threats, troops of the 12 Brigade, Nigerian Army, have neutralised scores of armed criminals and dismantled their hideouts under Operation EGWUA A TITE II, which commenced on 1 September 2025.
According to a statement by Lieutenant Hassan Abdullahi, Acting Assistant Director Army Public Relations, 126 Battalion troops, led by their Commanding Officer and supported by Other Hybrid Forces (OHF), engaged bandits in Tunga general area, killing two in a firefight.
To further boost morale, the Commander 12 Brigade and Force Commander Operation Accord III, Brigadier General Kasim Umar Sidi, led follow-up operations that destroyed several bandits’ settlements, reinforced dominance with patrols, and mounted ambushes to secure the general area.
On 2 September, troops acting on credible intelligence—with close air support from the 405 Helicopter Combat Training Group—executed a strike mission on Ankomi, engaging and neutralising fleeing bandits.
The tempo continued on 3 September with clearance operations in Aleke, Ungwan Soni, and Ungwan Nyaba, where troops successfully rescued Mr. Pabo Suleiman and his two children, reuniting them safely with their family. Five locally made dane guns were also recovered.
A major breakthrough came on 5 September, when intelligence-led operations targeted a bandit hideout near Tunga. In a fierce firefight, Kachalla Bala, a notorious bandit commander, and five of his fighters were eliminated. That same day, troops mounted a successful ambush along the Agbede–Adankoo Bridge (Mosalanci Boka), neutralising a bandit logistics courier and seizing a motorcycle, two mobile phones, and an AK-47 magazine loaded with 20 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.
The Nigerian Army reaffirmed its commitment to restoring peace and security in Kogi, stressing that the ongoing operations would continue until bandit networks are fully dismantled and communities are safe.
Credit: NTA
