Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Ododo, on Tuesday announced the discovery of a large cache of arms and ammunition from criminal hideouts following a decisive joint security operation in the state.

Items recovered include 24 AK-47 rifles, 23 pump-action rifles, one Tavor rifle, one FN rifle, four Barrett pistols, four Browning rifles, 42 magazines, 520 rounds of GPMG 7.62 ammunition, and substantial quantities of AK-47 ammunition and cartridges for pump-action and Barrett pistols. Additional items included handcuffs, 13 holsters, tear gas cartridges, and submachine gun components.

Governor Ododo, briefing journalists in Lokoja, said, “The operation was the outcome of over a week of sustained, intelligence-driven surveillance by security agencies working in firm coordination with the state government.”

He explained that the intensified crackdown on criminal elements followed his recent meeting with President Bola Tinubu, who urged him to step up security efforts rather than seek accolades.

“When I met Mr. President, I expected commendation, but he told me to go back and do more for my people. That statement re-energised me. We immediately regrouped, met with the security agencies, harmonised our strategies, and acted decisively on credible intelligence,” Ododo said.

The governor added, “Security operatives executed a coordinated overnight operation that uncovered a major criminal enclave where a significant stockpile of weapons was concealed.”

Although no arrests were made during the raid, Ododo described the recovery as “a major and strategic breakthrough in the fight against crime.”

He attributed the persistence of criminal activities to Kogi State’s strategic geography, noting that the state shares boundaries with 10 states and serves as a critical corridor with multiple entry and exit routes.

“Kogi State is fully alert. The DSS, the police, the military, the navy, and all other security agencies are working relentlessly, day and night. We will never bow to criminals, and we will never negotiate with them,” the governor declared.

Ododo urged residents to actively support security agencies by providing timely, accurate, and credible information, assuring the public of the government’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property.

He praised the cooperation of security agencies and expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for his support.

“The success recorded was the direct result of a tightly coordinated joint operation by multiple security agencies acting on credible and actionable intelligence,” he said, adding that citizens should not panic and can go about their lawful businesses without fear.

The Niger State Police Command says it has arrested six suspects for offences bordering on arms dealing, kidnapping, unlawful possession of ammunition and phone snatching, among others.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun, disclosed this in a statement on Monday, noting that the suspects were arrested during multiple operations across the state.

According to him, police operatives, acting on credible intelligence that one Zuwaira Usman specialised in transporting ammunition for hoodlums, arrested the suspect on November 4, 2025.

He said the suspect confessed during interrogation that she met one Lawali in Birnin-Gwari, Kaduna State, in September 2025, where they exchanged phone numbers. In the course of their interaction, Lawali allegedly requested her to travel to Warri, Delta State, to collect a package for him.

“She claimed that Lawali gave her N20,000 as transport fare, after which she embarked on the journey. On getting to Abuja, she stated that Lawali spoke with the driver and informed him where she would be dropped off in Warri.

“Zuwaira further narrated that upon arrival at her destination, she met a man on a motorcycle who handed over a sack containing a flask with some items to be delivered to Lawali. She said the man, later identified as Ahmed, also gave her an additional N30,000 for her return journey to Kaduna.

“She took the item back to Abuja and then to Kaduna State, where she delivered the sack to Lawali in Birnin-Gwari. It was later discovered that the flask contained a total of 2,500 rounds of AK-47 ammunition.

“Further reports indicated that Ahmed was later intercepted and arrested in Delta State, while efforts are ongoing to arrest Lawali as investigations continue,” the PPRO said.

Abiodun added that on November 27, operatives also arrested one Aminu Ahmed for allegedly kidnapping three children in Kontagora and collecting ransom totalling over N2m.

He noted that the suspect confessed to abducting a three-year-old child and collecting N1.4m as ransom before releasing him. He was also said to have admitted to kidnapping a four-year-old boy and another three-year-old child within Kontagora, from whom a combined ransom of N850,000 was collected before their release.

“He further claimed that he was defrauded of over N1.8m in proceeds of crime during a mining investment business. The suspect is under further investigation,” Abiodun added.

The PPRO further disclosed that another operation on November 30 led to the arrest of one Mohammed Mahmud of the Zuba area, who was found in possession of a locally fabricated pistol loaded with one cartridge during a stop-and-search operation.

In another operation, Abiodun said, “On December 10, 2025, at about 4:30 p.m., Operation Flush police patrol team attached to Chanchaga Division arrested two suspects—Hassan Abdullahi, 19, of the Mandela area, and Khalifa Bashir, 21, of Bosso.

“The suspects were intercepted in a tricycle at the Old City Gate, and during a search, three Android phones suspected of having been stolen were recovered from them. During interrogation, they confessed to snatching the handsets from passengers in the tricycle.”

He added that on December 12, the command received a report about suspected armed robbers loitering around a mountain close to Zuma Rock.

This, Abiodun stated, prompted immediate mobilisation to the area, where two improvised guns wrapped with black Sellotape were recovered.

Abiodun further stated that on the same date, two suspected armed robbers, Adamu Usman and Umar Mohammed Bello, were arrested in the Kagarko area in connection with an armed robbery incident reported on November 1.

“In the course of the investigation, one of the stolen phones was tracked to the suspects in Kagarko. During interrogation, they confessed to the crime and mentioned other members of the gang.

“The suspects are currently aiding police investigation, while efforts are ongoing to arrest other members of the syndicate.

“One Zakariyau Mohammed of the Jubilee area, Suleja, was also arrested on December 11, 2025, for conspiracy and theft of household items.

“The suspect allegedly conspired with one Aminu Na’wushe to steal items, including a generator, laptop and other home electronics, from a residence along Kaduna Road. Police operatives swiftly arrested Zakariyau and recovered the items, while efforts to arrest Aminu have been intensified,” Abiodun stated.