The 12 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Lokoja, says its troops on 3 January 2026 killed two bandits at Agbadu Bunu community in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State in an ambush, and one other at Saminaka village in Yagba West LGA.
The Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, Lt Hassan Abdullahi, confirmed this in a statement to newsmen in Lokoja on Sunday.
The army spokesperson said the Brigade acted on credible intelligence and deployed troops swiftly, laying a deliberate ambush at a bandit crossing point between Adankolo general area towards Agbadu Bunu in Kabba/Bunu LGA.
Lt Abdullahi said, “The bandits subsequently ran into the troops’ ambush position and were engaged, forcing them to withdraw with indications of casualties as blood stains were observed during exploitation of the area.
“In the course of the encounter, troops neutralized two bandits and recovered one AK 47 rifle, one magazine, ninety nine rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, one locally fabricated gun and eleven cartridges.”
He added that troops, in conjunction with local vigilantes, conducted a fighting patrol in the village and adjoining forested areas, after further intelligence revealed the movement of bandits around Saminaka village in Yagba West LGA.
“On arrival, the village was observed to have been deserted, prompting troops to dismount and exploit the surrounding forest and routes leading towards the Saminaka Sabo Rijiya road.
“Troops made contact with an unconfirmed number of bandits, and engaged them, leading to their withdrawal through the forest.
“During subsequent exploitation, troops traced the withdrawal route and discovered one neutralized bandit, one AK 47 rifle and seventeen rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition,” he said.
Lt Abdullahi stressed that during the operation, the troops arrested a suspected bandit logistics supplier identified as Sunday Adedotun, from Odo Eri village in Yagba West LGA.
He said the suspect was apprehended on a farmland within Saminaka village, claiming to be assisting farmers in transporting produce after harvest.
According to him, items recovered at the settlement included cartons of energy and soft drinks, bottled water, and harvested farm produce, stressing that the suspect is currently in custody undergoing investigation.
