Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Ododo, has announced the recovery of a large cache of arms and ammunition from criminal hideouts following a coordinated joint security operation carried out across parts of the state.
Ododo disclosed this on Tuesday while briefing journalists in Lokoja, saying the operation was the result of more than a week of sustained, intelligence-driven surveillance by security agencies working closely with the state government.
According to the governor, the renewed crackdown on criminal elements was further intensified after his recent meeting with President Bola Tinubu, who urged him to prioritise security outcomes over public commendation.
“When I met Mr President, I expected commendation, but he told me to go back and do more for my people. That statement re-energised me. We immediately regrouped, met with the security agencies, harmonised our strategies and acted decisively on credible intelligence,” Ododo said.
He explained that operatives carried out a coordinated overnight raid on a major criminal enclave where a significant stockpile of weapons was concealed. Although no arrests were made during the operation, the governor described the arms recovery as a major strategic breakthrough in the fight against crime.
Ododo attributed the persistence of criminal activities in the state to Kogi’s strategic location, noting that it shares boundaries with 10 states and serves as a key transit corridor with multiple entry and exit routes.
“Kogi State is fully alert. The DSS, the police, the military, the navy and all other security agencies are working relentlessly, day and night. We will never bow to criminals, and we will never negotiate with them,” he declared.
Items recovered during the operation include 24 AK-47 rifles, 23 pump-action rifles, one Tavor rifle, one FN rifle, four Barrett pistols, four Browning rifles, 42 magazines and 520 rounds of 7.62mm GPMG ammunition. Also recovered were large quantities of AK-47 ammunition, cartridges for pump-action rifles and Barrett pistols, handcuffs, 13 holsters, tear gas cartridges and submachine gun (SMG) components.
The governor said the success was the outcome of a tightly coordinated operation involving multiple security agencies acting on credible and actionable intelligence.
He called on residents to support security agencies by providing timely and reliable information, assuring them of the government’s commitment to protecting lives and property.
Ododo expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for his support and to the Director-General of the Department of State Services, the Chief of Defence Staff, the service chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police and the leadership of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps for their cooperation.
He urged residents not to panic, assuring them that the security situation was under control and advising citizens to go about their lawful activities without fear.
