Police free 309 abductees, arrest 129 suspects in Kogi, Kwara operations

The Nigeria Police Force has rescued 309 hostages and arrested 129 suspected terrorists during coordinated security operations in Kogi and Kwara states, with 55 others killed in armed confrontations.

Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed the development on Tuesday while speaking on Politics Today on Channels Television. He said those killed were neutralised during gun battles with security operatives, dismissing allegations of extrajudicial killings.

“I can confirm that 129 suspects were arrested and 55 were neutralised in Kogi and Kwara. These were firefights,” Hundeyin said.

He explained that the hostages were rescued in sustained raids on identified criminal hideouts across the two states. According to him, the suspects who were killed refused to surrender and chose to engage security forces despite the arrest of some of their accomplices.

“Some of them decided to fight to the end, and 55 were neutralised in the process,” he added.

Hundeyin attributed the success of the operations to months of intelligence gathering and careful planning by multiple security agencies. He said the offensive involved specialised police units, including the Police Mobile Force, Intelligence Response Team, Special Intervention Squad and the Air Wing, working in collaboration with the military and other security agencies.

The police spokesman noted that ground operatives worked closely with aerial support, maintaining constant communication throughout the operation. He added that no casualty was recorded among security personnel.

Describing the operational environment, Hundeyin said the areas targeted were heavily forested, difficult to access and largely impassable by road, requiring sustained deployment over several months.

He assured Nigerians that the operations would continue, stressing the resolve of the police to dismantle criminal networks across the region.

“We are taking this fight to every identified enclave of bandits and terrorists. This is just the beginning,” he said.