Gov. Ododo Briefs NSA On Joint Security Force Elimination Of Terrorist Kingpin, Battijo
Akash Jerry
Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, has formally briefed the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, on the successful security operation that led to the neutralisation of notorious terrorist and bandit kingpin, Kachalla Ibrahim Battijo.
​The meeting, which took place in Abuja, detailed how a joint force of Federal security agencies, the Kogi State Vigilante Service, and local hunters foiled a mass abduction plot targeting students writing their WAEC examinations in Iluke, Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area.
In a statement by the Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, the government explained that highly sophisticated intelligence assets were deployed to monitor the criminal gang, allowing security forces to swiftly relocate the vulnerable students to safety before launching a decisive counter-attack.
​The statement noted that during the fierce gun battle, the notorious bandit kingpin was eliminated, while subsequent clearance operations by the Nigerian Army, led by the Commander of the Twelve Brigade, Brigadier General Karim Sidi, resulted in the recovery of more than fifteen bodies of the bandits, while the remains of Battijo were exhumed from a shallow grave for forensic analysis.
​Governor Ododo expressed profound appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his unwavering commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture, noting that the victory is a clear indication that the President’s security initiatives are yielding measurable results.
​The Governor called on Nigerians to continue supporting the nation’s security institutions, stressing that collective resolve remains essential to making terrorism and banditry relics of the past.
​“Kogi State will never be a safe haven for terrorists, bandits, or any criminal group. We will continue to work with federal security agencies to protect our people,” the Governor is quoted as stressed in the statement.
In a response, ​the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, described the elimination of Kachalla Battijo as a major milestone and a breakthrough in the national fight against terrorism, commending Governor Ododo for his proactive commitment to securing the strategic gateway State.
(Editor: Ken Eseni)
