In a continued push to eliminate banditry and restore peace in Kogi State, troops of the Nigerian Army’s 12 Brigade have intensified efforts under Operation EGWUA A TITE II, successfully neutralising scores of armed bandits and rescuing kidnapped victims across multiple operations.
The operation, which began on September 1, 2025, targets criminal enclaves in the state. According to a statement by Lieutenant Hassan Abdullahi, Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, troops of the 126 Battalion, led by the Commanding Officer and supported by Other Hybrid Forces (OHF), engaged armed bandits in the Tunga general area, resulting in the neutralisation of two terrorists.
To further motivate troops and sustain momentum, Brigadier General Kasim Umar Sidi, Commander of the 12 Brigade and Force Commander of Operation Accord III, personally led further exploitation efforts. These operations led to the destruction of several bandit camps and increased area dominance through ongoing patrols and ambushes.
On September 2, acting on credible intelligence and with air support from the 405 Helicopter Combat Training Group, troops launched an airstrike on Ankomi, targeting fleeing bandits. The coordinated attack successfully neutralised several combatants.
In another significant operation on September 3, troops conducted clearance missions in Aleke, Ungwan Soni, and Ungwan Nyaba, resulting in the rescue of Mr. Pabo Suleiman and his two children, who have since been reunited with their family. Troops also recovered five locally-made dane guns during the mission.
On September 5, following intelligence on a notorious bandit hideout near Tunga, troops engaged in a fierce gun battle, eliminating Kachalla Bala, a well-known bandit leader, and five of his associates. That same day, an ambush along a suspected bandit supply route at Agbede–Adankoo Bridge (Mosalanci Boka) led to the death of a logistics courier. Items recovered included one motorcycle, two mobile phones, and an AK-47 magazine loaded with 20 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition.
The Nigerian Army reaffirmed its commitment to eradicating all forms of criminality in Kogi State and called on residents to continue supporting military efforts with timely and credible information.
