The Kogi State Government has announced the killing of a notorious bandit leader, Kachala Ibrahim Batijo, who was allegedly behind a series of attacks and planned mass abductions targeting schools in the state.
The government described the development as a major breakthrough in its ongoing campaign against criminal elements operating within Kogi communities.
Speaking on Tuesday during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme, the State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, said Batijo was among several bandits neutralised during a coordinated operation involving the military, the Department of State Services, the police and local security networks.
According to Fanwo, the slain gang leader was responsible for orchestrating the recent attack on Government Secondary School, Iluke, in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area, which claimed the lives of three persons, including a vice principal and a six-year-old child.
The commissioner revealed that intelligence reports had earlier linked Batijo to plots aimed at abducting students from schools across the state, prompting authorities to adopt extraordinary measures to prevent such attacks.
“It was a process that took a long time. We received intelligence that he was planning attacks on schools in Kogi State, and while efforts were ongoing to track him, we had to shut down schools for more than three weeks as a precautionary measure,” Fanwo said.
He explained that security agencies discovered plans by the gang to target students writing the West African Senior School Certificate Examination at Government Secondary School, Iluke.
“We got intelligence that they intended to attack GSS Iluke and abduct students sitting for their examinations. Batijo was coordinating those plans and directing the operations aimed at taking those children away,” he stated.
Fanwo said the state government relied on advanced surveillance technology and intelligence gathering capabilities to monitor the activities of the bandit group.
“Kogi State has invested heavily in high-tech intelligence gathering equipment. We were able to monitor his activities closely and take proactive measures. We relocated the students from the remote school location to the centre of Iluke town while security agencies continued to track the movements of the criminals,” he added.
Recounting the June 10 attack on Iluke, the commissioner said the bandits arrived in large numbers but were met with resistance from local security operatives and government forces.
“On June 10, he struck. About 40 motorcycles conveyed roughly 100 terrorists into the area. They attacked several locations and attempted to abduct students from the school, but they failed. Not a single student was taken away,” Fanwo said.
He credited local vigilantes, conventional security agencies and intelligence operatives for successfully repelling the attack.
“Our local security architecture provided the first line of defence and was supported by the military, the police, the DSS and other security agencies. Together, they foiled the attack and prevented what could have been a major tragedy,” he said.
Fanwo disclosed that the operation eventually led to the death of Batijo and several members of his gang.
“We were able to neutralise Batijo and a significant number of the terrorists involved in that operation. It was a successful mission. As of now, between 15 and 20 bodies of the terrorists have been recovered, and further operations have continued to yield results,” he stated.
The commissioner said security agencies had also moved to exhume a body believed to be that of the slain bandit leader to conclusively establish his identity through scientific examination.
“We are highly confident that the individual neutralised is Batijo, but we are taking additional steps to confirm that scientifically. Intelligence indicated that he was secretly buried by surviving members of his gang after the operation,” he said.
“That is why security agencies decided to exhume the body for further examination and forensic investigations. We want to establish his identity beyond any doubt.”
Fanwo reiterated the commitment of the Kogi State Government to sustaining pressure on criminal groups and ensuring the safety of residents, particularly students and other vulnerable members of society.
He assured citizens that the administration would continue to strengthen collaboration with security agencies and invest in intelligence-driven operations aimed at eliminating threats to peace and security across the state.
