The Nigeria Police Force has rescued 309 hostages and neutralised 55 terrorists during a coordinated security operation in Kogi and Kwara states, while arresting 129 suspected criminals.
Force Public Relations Officer Benjamin Hundeyin disclosed the figures on Tuesday during an interview on Politics Today on Channels Television. He dismissed claims of extrajudicial killings, explaining that the deaths occurred during armed confrontations.
“I can confirm that 129 of these terrorists were arrested and 55 were neutralised. These were firefights,” Hundeyin said.
The rescued hostages were freed from multiple criminal hideouts identified through months of intelligence gathering and meticulous planning. Hundeyin said those killed had refused to surrender, choosing instead to engage security operatives in combat.
“These were people who decided to fight to the end, so 55 of them were neutralised,” he added.
The operation involved a coordinated effort by various police units, including the Mobile Police Force, Intelligence Response Team, Special Intervention Squad, and Air Wing, working alongside the military and other security agencies.
Ground forces were supported by aerial units, maintaining constant communication throughout the offensive. Hundeyin noted that no casualties were recorded among security personnel.
The areas targeted during the operation were described as heavily forested, difficult to access by road, and long considered strongholds of criminal activity.
Hundeyin assured Nigerians that operations would continue, targeting all identified enclaves of bandits and terrorists. “We are taking this battle to every identified enclave. This is just the beginning,” he said.
Authorities credited the success of the operation to careful intelligence work, sustained deployment, and close coordination between ground and aerial units, signaling a renewed commitment to counter-terrorism efforts in the region.
