The Nigerian Army on Sunday dismissed reports that bandits overran troops in Obanla, Kwara State, carting away heavy weapons and ammunition, insisting that its operational bases remain intact.
An online platform had reported that the armed group, which has been linked to recent killings in Kogi State, allegedly seized at least six General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs) and over 30,000 rounds of ammunition from soldiers during an ambush in Kwara last month.
Quoting a senior military source, the report claimed the weapons haul boosted the capacity of the bandits now terrorising communities in Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi, where residents have fled en masse following relentless attacks.
But reacting in a statement, Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, 2 Division, Lieutenant Colonel Polycarp Okoye, described the report as false and designed to “mislead the public and undermine the morale of gallant troops.”
According to him, troops of the 148 Battalion (Rear), currently deployed in clearance operations across Kogi and Kwara States, have recorded “major operational successes,” including the neutralisation of two armed bandits and the recovery of two brand-new AK-47 rifles along the Kwara–Ekiti border axis.
“At no point were our positions overrun or any cache of weapons lost to criminal elements as alleged. Our troops remain fully in control of their operational areas,” Okoye said.
He urged members of the public to disregard the “misleading publication” and instead support the military with credible intelligence to aid ongoing counter-banditry efforts in the North-Central region.
Despite the Army’s denial, communities in Kwara and neighbouring Kogi remain under siege. Last week, armed men invaded Bareke in Egbe, Yagba West, abducting a woman and her two children after injuring her husband in a midnight raid.
The attack followed a similar incident in Ejiba, where bandits hijacked a commercial bus and kidnapped all passengers. In another assault, a motorcyclist was killed and three persons kidnapped from Bethel Farm in the same council area.
On September 26, videos obtained by SaharaReporters showed Okunran, another Yagba West community, deserted as residents fled en masse after repeated attacks.
The footage revealed abandoned homes and deserted streets, underscoring the growing humanitarian crisis in the area.
The Army has, however, reiterated its resolve to sustain the momentum of operations until what it described as “criminal networks” in Kwara, Kogi and surrounding states are dismantled.
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