Gov Ododo Applauds Joint Security Offensive as Operation India Destroys Bandit Camps, Rescues 16 Victims

Gov Ododo Applauds Joint Security Offensive as Operation India Destroys Bandit Camps, Rescues 16 Victims

By Friday Joseph

Lokoja 

February 17, 2026

The Kogi State Government has intensified its war against banditry with a decisive joint security offensive that dismantled more than seven criminal camps and rescued 16 kidnapped victims across parts of the state.

Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo disclosed this on Tuesday in Lokoja after a security briefing with heads of security agencies at the Chari Maigumeri Barracks in Lokoja. 

The two-week operation, code-named Operation India, was executed through close collaboration among multiple security agencies and the Office of the National Security Adviser, deploying both ground troops and air assets to penetrate previously inaccessible enclaves.

Among those rescued were a 65-year-old woman and her eight-year-old son. 

The governor assured that all freed victims would undergo medical checks before being reunited with their families.

“For over two weeks, officers and men across the services left their families and personal comforts to remain in the forests confronting these criminals,” Governor Ododo said. “Their resilience, professionalism and commitment led to the dismantling of several camps and the safe rescue of victims.”

Security operatives recovered more than 50 mobile phones, ammunition and other incriminating items from the destroyed camps, an outcome the governor described as a major breakthrough in restoring peace and public confidence.

Commending the synergy among the Nigerian Army, Department of State Services, the Nigeria Police Force and other stakeholders, Ododo said the unified objective remains the total eradication of criminal elements in Kogi State. He also praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for sustained commitment to national security.

“We are open to peace, but not peace by mere words,” the governor added. “There will be no negotiation unless criminals surrender their arms unconditionally.”

An intelligence analyst familiar with the operation said the success was intelligence-driven, following months of profiling key bandit leaders operating around Kogi Central and adjoining areas. Coordinated air and ground strikes were launched after mapping movements and capabilities, with support from the Nigerian Air Force and the Police Air Wing. Several bandits were neutralized, while others fled as camps were overrun and destroyed.

One of the rescued victims, Rukayat Muhammad, a student from Kaduna State, recounted her ordeal after being abducted during travel. Her testimony u

revealed the psychological trauma endured by captives and reinforced the urgency of sustained security action.

In a related development, Governor Ododo visited an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Zone Eight, where some rescued individuals are temporarily sheltered pending identity verification and medical assessment. He was received by the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Hajia Rabiat Okute, and reiterated his administration’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding lives and livelihoods.

“My mandate is to secure lives and property,” the governor said. “With continued cooperation and timely intelligence from residents, we will defeat these criminals.”

The state government has urged citizens to remain vigilant and continue sharing credible information with security agencies as operations persist to flush out remaining threats and consolidate peace across Kogi State.