The Kogi State Police Command has intensified its bush clearance operations, conducting a joint security sweep that dislodged suspected criminal elements from forest hideouts linking Kabba/Bunu, Obajana and Lokoja.
The operation, which began at about 7:00 a.m. on Thursday, formed part of the Command’s sustained campaign to deny criminals access to forest corridors and hideouts across the state. It was carried out in line with directives from the Commissioner of Police, CP Naziru Bello Kankarofi, who had ordered a renewed push against armed elements hibernating in remote forest areas.
A combined team of police officers, military personnel, local vigilantes and other auxiliary forces swept through the Daji 2 Forest Zone, a key corridor linking the three axes. During the operation, security operatives uncovered and cleared an abandoned settlement believed to have served as a hideout and staging point for criminal activities.
The team also pushed further into Amos Camp, another suspected hideout situated in difficult, creek-laden and mountainous terrain. Despite the harsh conditions, operatives cleared the camp and surrounding forest paths.
Officials said signs of recent movement were spotted along routes leading toward the Oyo Forest axis in Obajana, suggesting that suspected criminals had fled the area ahead of the advancing security team.
According to the Command, the operation has boosted confidence among farmers and residents in the affected communities, many of whom have reportedly begun returning to their farmlands following the visible security presence.
The Kabba Area Command and other security formations in the region say they will continue patrols, intelligence gathering and bush clearance operations to sustain the calm currently being enjoyed in the area. Police say similar operations are ongoing in other parts of the state as part of a broader strategy to flush out criminal elements from all known hideouts.
Commissioner Kankarofi commended personnel and members of the collaborating forces for their courage and resilience in navigating difficult terrain, and reassured residents — particularly farmers — that the Command remains committed to sustaining the operations and ensuring a safe environment for economic activities across the state.
