Alhaji Ahmed Ododo, the governor of Kogi State, declared on Tuesday that a large cache of weapons and ammunition had been found in criminal hideouts as a result of a successful combined 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 clarified that his recent meeting with President Bola Tinubu, who asked him to increase security measures rather than pursue recognition, was the reason behind the intensified crackdown on criminal elements.
“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, harmonized 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 said that Kogi State shares borders with ten states and acts as a vital corridor with several entry and departure routes, attributing the state’s strategic location to the persistence of criminal activity.
“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 citizens to actively support security authorities by giving prompt, accurate, and credible information, in order to reassure the public of the government’s dedication to protecting lives and property.
He lauded President Tinubu for his support and commended security services for their cooperation.
“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.
