Scores of bandits have been neutralized in Kogi State following a joint air-and-ground operation by the Nigeria Police Force Air Wing and the military, aimed at dismantling armed groups operating in forested areas of the state.

The coordinated offensive combined precision airstrikes with ground troop maneuvers, forcing bandits out of their hideouts, destroying their camps, and neutralizing several fighters during heavy engagements. Footage obtained by SaharaReporters shows a bandits’ enclave engulfed in flames shortly after an airstrike, with helicopters providing aerial support to advancing troops.

Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, confirmed the operation, stating that it resulted in the neutralization of scores of bandits and the dismantling of their networks across Kogi forests.

The Kogi State Police Command, through spokesperson CSP William Ovye Aya, described the exercise as conducted with “vigour, commitment, and utmost professionalism.” Residents have been urged to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements through official security channels.

In a related development, the Nigerian Air Force, under the joint task force Operation Hadin Kai, carried out precision air interdictions at AbbagaJiri in Borno State, targeting terrorist structures and logistics facilities. Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, Chief of the Air Staff, emphasized that the operation was designed to deny terrorists sanctuary and freedom of movement, while strictly adhering to rules of engagement and protection of non-combatants.

The success of these coordinated air-and-ground missions highlights the ongoing commitment of Nigeria’s security forces to degrade armed criminal networks and restore peace in affected regions.