Security operatives in Kogi State on Saturday evening foiled an attempted bandit attack in Ikoyi community, Ijumu local government area, preventing what the authorities described as a potential major security crisis.
At about 7:00 p.m. bandits reportedly stormed a gathering in the community with the intention of abducting participants and causing panic among the residents.
According to the Kogi State government, the gathering involved members of the Tiv community and was held in violation of an existing government security directive restricting public social gatherings beyond 4:00 p.m.
In a statement issued by the commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, security personnel comprising the Nigerian military, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), operatives of the Kogi State Vigilante Service and local hunters responded to distress calls within five minutes of the incident.
The swift intervention led to a fierce exchange of gunfire, forcing the attackers to abandon their mission and flee into nearby forests.
“The rapid response by security agencies denied the criminals the opportunity to carry out their plans and ensured that no resident was abducted,” the statement said.
However, one member of the Tiv community was killed during the incident, while another sustained gunshot injuries and is receiving medical treatment.
Government sources disclosed that intelligence reports indicate several of the fleeing attackers suffered gunshot wounds during the confrontation. Security agencies have since launched a manhunt and are tracking the suspects.
The state government called on residents to support ongoing security operations by reporting anyone found with suspicious gunshot injuries or seeking treatment for firearm-related wounds to the nearest security formation.
Fanwo said the incident further demonstrated the effectiveness of Kogi State’s community-based security architecture and the strong collaboration among conventional security agencies, vigilante operatives, and local hunters.
He noted that the integration of the Kogi State Vigilante Service into the mainstream civil service, alongside pensionable appointments approved by Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s administration, has significantly enhanced intelligence gathering and rapid response capabilities across the state.
The commissioner also commended the Hunters Group for its continued role in grassroots security operations, describing it as a critical component of the state’s first line of defence against criminal activities.
The government praised all security personnel involved in the operation for their courage, professionalism, and sacrifice, stressing that their prompt response prevented what could have been a large-scale security breach.
It also reiterated the need for residents to comply strictly with security directives, especially restrictions on unauthorized gatherings in vulnerable locations and at vulnerable hours.
Fanwo assured citizens that the state government remains committed to protecting lives and property and will continue to support security agencies in sustaining peace and stability across Kogi State.
He urged residents to remain vigilant and provide credible information to security agencies to help keep communities safe.
