The Kogi State Government says joint security operations involving the Nigerian Army, other security agencies and local vigilantes have recovered about 1,000 rustled livestock from bandits and cattle rustling syndicates operating in the state.
The Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, disclosed this in a statement issued in Lokoja.
Fanwo said the offensive targeted remnants of the late bandit leader, Kachalla Ibrahim Battijo, and other criminal groups involved in cattle rustling across Kogi and the North Central region.
He said the recovery followed credible and timely intelligence acted upon by the 12 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Hybrid Forces from the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services, the police, local vigilantes and hunters.
According to him, more than 200 of the recovered animals were traced to the network of the late Battijo, while the rest were recovered from other armed groups stealing cattle across Kogi and neighboring states.
Fanwo said the criminals had planned to move the stolen livestock through Kogi for sale in order to raise money for weapons, food and logistics.
He said security operatives engaged the bandits in gun battles at different locations, killing several of them while others escaped with gunshot wounds and abandoned the animals.
The commissioner said remnants of Battijo group had become desperate following the death of their leader, as sustained operations continued to weaken their network and restrict their movement.
He said the recovered livestock were being kept in a secure location in Kabba Bunu Local Government Area, while arrangements were underway to identify the rightful owners and return the animals.
Fanwo commended the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Chief of Army Staff, the Inspector General of Police, the Director General of the DSS, military personnel, police officers, vigilantes and hunters for their professionalism and collaboration.
He described the operation as another major step in Kogi ongoing campaign against criminality.
The commissioner said the state government would continue to maximize security support from President Bola Tinubu to protect lives and property.
He urged residents to continue providing timely and credible intelligence to security agencies, assuring them that useful information would be treated confidentially and acted upon quickly.
Fanwo said security remains a shared responsibility and reaffirmed the government determination to make Kogi unsafe for criminals and secure for law abiding residents.
