Security authorities in Kogi State have raised the alert level following intelligence that a substantial contingent of heavily armed outlaws has entered the wooded districts surrounding Bassa, Anyigba and Ochaja. The influx appears to be a response to intensified military operations in Kwara and Niger States, prompting the bandits to seek shelter in these remote forest zones.
An internal police transmission, obtained by the press, cautioned that several of the intruders are dressed in attire resembling military uniforms and are equipped with AK‑47 rifles as well as other advanced weapons. The alert warned that these groups could orchestrate coordinated assaults on both civilian institutions and security installations throughout Kogi East.
The communication specifically highlighted a number of high‑risk sites, including Ochaja Boys and Girls Secondary School, Prince Abubakar Audu University in Anyigba, various banking facilities, police stations and places of worship scattered across the senatorial district.
To address the threat, the memo recommended immediate briefings for divisional officers, the deployment of Quick Response Units alongside the Police Mobile Force, and an intensification of stop‑and‑search operations on the principal highways traversing the area.
In response, the State Intelligence Department has ordered heightened patrols, continuous surveillance and sustained intelligence‑gathering efforts to safeguard the identified locations, while confirming that additional personnel are being dispatched to the most vulnerable areas.
