13 suspects arrested as police rescue victims in Kogi/Kwara security raid

By Oluwatoyin Hawal Momolosho –

Joint security forces in Kogi and Kwara States have arrested 13 suspects — including 12 alleged kidnappers and one informant — during coordinated raids that also led to the rescue of several kidnap victims.

The Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, describing the operation as a major success against insecurity.

According to the statement, the raids were conducted by a Hybrid Force from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), in collaboration with personnel from the Forward Operating Base (FOB), Egbe. The operations targeted hideouts in Isanlu-Esa and Okoloke in Kogi State’s Yagba West LGA, as well as Patigi, Lafiagi, and Gbugbu in Kwara State.

The suspects arrested include Mainasara Abubakar, Sadik Abubakar, Jude Sani, Sanda Abubakar, Lawali Usman, Tukur Shehu, Hassan Abubakar, Kabiru Surajo, Makiri Dodo, Bala Hassan, Umaru Sanda, Ruwa Abubakar, and Rabiu Makeri, who is suspected of being an informant.

Fanwo noted that the arrests followed a gun battle between the security team and the kidnappers, during which some suspects fled, leaving behind motorcycles and hostages. Several women held captive were rescued unharmed.

He commended the officers involved for their professionalism and praised the Kwara State Government for its support in achieving what he called “an outstanding result.”

Fanwo assured residents that peace had been restored in the affected communities, adding that the criminal route from Kwara into Kogi had been disrupted.

One security operative was reportedly injured in the crossfire and is receiving treatment at a hospital in Yagba West.