Nigeria Police rescue 309 hostages, arrest 129 terrorists, neutralise 55 during coordinated intelligence-driven operation in Kogi and Kwara states.
The Nigeria Police Force has successfully executed a coordinated and intelligence-driven security operation across Kogi and Kwara states, leading to the rescue of 309 hostages, the arrest of 129 suspected terrorists, and the neutralisation of 55 others.
The operation represents one of the most significant crackdowns on criminal networks in the region in recent years.
The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed the details on Tuesday during an interview on Politics Today, aired on Channels Television.
Hundeyin explained that the operation was the result of months of careful planning, extensive intelligence gathering, and meticulous coordination between multiple security agencies.
He emphasised that the operation was aimed at dismantling the networks of terrorists responsible for kidnapping, banditry, and other violent crimes in the two states.
“This operation was not spontaneous. It involved several months of intelligence and preparation,” Hundeyin said.
“Our teams were on the ground monitoring the movements of these criminals, ensuring that we strike effectively without endangering the lives of civilians or our personnel.”
According to Hundeyin, the operation deployed a combination of specialised police units working alongside the military and other security agencies.
These included the Police Mobile Force, the Intelligence Response Team, the Special Intervention Squad, and the Police Air Wing.
He noted that the collaboration allowed for real-time communication between ground operatives and aerial units, ensuring that the terrorists could not escape through the dense forested terrain.
The areas targeted during the operation are known for being heavily forested, largely inaccessible by road, and difficult to navigate without careful planning.
Hundeyin said this challenging environment made aerial surveillance and tactical coordination essential.
Security personnel had been deployed in the region for several months, gradually dismantling the hideouts of the terrorists and ensuring the safe recovery of abducted individuals.
Addressing concerns about the deaths of 55 suspects, Hundeyin clarified that these were not extrajudicial killings. Instead, the fatalities occurred during armed confrontations when some terrorists resisted arrest and engaged security operatives in gunfights.
“I want to make it clear that these were active firefights. Some suspects chose to fight to the end,” he said.
Hundeyin also confirmed that despite the intensity of the operation, no casualties were recorded among the security personnel.
He attributed this to careful planning, professionalism, and the use of coordinated intelligence to guide ground and aerial operations.
The spokesperson stressed that the success of the operation was due in large part to months of surveillance, tracking, and collaboration among different security agencies.
The operation led to the safe rescue of 309 hostages, many of whom had been held in forest enclaves under harsh conditions.
Hundeyin noted that the suspects’ refusal to surrender, even after the arrest of their associates, led to several confrontations with security forces.
“These were determined individuals who resisted every effort to bring them into custody. That is why some were neutralised,” he explained.
The police spokesman reiterated that the operation was part of a sustained effort to combat terrorism, kidnapping, and banditry in Kogi, Kwara, and other affected states.
He assured Nigerians that authorities would continue to target and dismantle all remaining terrorist enclaves, stressing that the campaign was far from over.
“This is just the beginning,” Hundeyin said. “We are taking this battle to every known enclave of terrorists. Our goal is to ensure that no criminal network can operate freely or threaten the safety of our citizens.”
Security experts have praised the operation as a model of intelligence-driven law enforcement.
By combining ground forces, specialised units, and aerial support, the Nigeria Police Force has demonstrated the effectiveness of coordinated operations in tackling organised criminal networks.
Analysts also highlighted that such sustained operations are crucial for long-term stability in areas prone to banditry and terrorism.
ACP Hundeyin concluded by encouraging citizens to cooperate with security agencies by providing timely information that could assist in tracking terrorists and dismantling their networks.
He stressed that the success of these operations depends not only on the professionalism of the police and military but also on the active participation of communities across affected regions.
With the recent success in Kogi and Kwara, the Nigeria Police Force has set a clear precedent: that intelligence, coordination, and determination can significantly weaken criminal networks while prioritising the safety of civilians.
Authorities have vowed that such operations will continue nationwide until all terrorist threats are neutralised, hostages are secured, and communities are restored to safety.
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