The Nigeria Police Force has issued a high alert to all formations in Kwara and Kogi States following intelligence reports indicating a potential terrorists attack in the Omu-Aran area of Kwara State, also targeting the Yagba West axis of Kogi State.
According to directives from police commanders and Deputy Police Officers in Osun State, law enforcement agencies in the bordering regions are particularly urged to remain vigilant.
Officers are instructed to enhance their patrol operations and ensure preventive measures against any kidnappings in their areas of responsibility.
A police wireless message obtained by SaharaReporters on Monday put the commands on alert, effective for the next 72 hours.
The signal was signed was by the Directorate of Operations from the Osun State Police Command.
The signal reads, “TERRORISTS ATTACK X INTREP MINE INDICATES THAT TERRORISTS ARE ASSEMBLING TO LAUNCH ATTACK IN THE NEXT 72HRS ON OMU-ARAN KWARA STATE TO YAGBA WEST AXIS OF WESTERN KOGI STATE X ALL AREA COMMANDERS/DPOS IN OSUN STATE ARE TO BE AT RED ALERT X ESPECIALLY THOSE SHARING BOUNDARIES WITH KWARA AND KOGI STATES X YOU ALL ARE FURTHER DIRECTED TO PUT YOUR PATROL TEAMS AT ALERT AND ENSURE NO KIDNAPPING TAKES PLACE IN YOUR RESPECTIVE AOR X TREAT AS VERY IMPORTANT PLEASE X.”
Meanwhile, Kwara South has become a hotspot for kidnappers.
In the past couple of weeks, several people have been kidnapped.
Last Thursday, gunmen invaded the Oreke-Okegbo community in the Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State. One person was shot and injured, while another was killed in a foiled kidnapping.
Earlier in October, gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen killed Chief Lukman Balogun, a prominent vigilante commander popularly known as “Jagun,” in the Igbaja community, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The clash took place on Monday evening during a mission to rescue three individuals abducted by the herdsmen.
It was gathered that Jagun was tracking the kidnappers, who had previously abducted a prominent Igbaja resident, when he was killed on the Ogele-Yaaru road.
Three kidnap victims, whose identities have not been revealed, were still in the custody of their captors when the incident occurred.