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.
