Kogi State Governor Ahmed Ododo says security operatives have uncovered a large cache of arms and ammunition from criminal hideouts in the state following a coordinated intelligence-driven operation.
Ododo disclosed this on Tuesday, December 16, while briefing journalists in Lokoja, describing the discovery as the result of more than a week of sustained surveillance led by security agencies in partnership with the state government.
He explained that the decisive crackdown was reinvigorated after a recent meeting with President Bola Tinubu, who urged him to strengthen security measures rather than wait for praise.
“When I met Mr President, I expected commendation, but he told me to go back and do more for my people. That statement re-energised me.
“We immediately regrouped, met with the security agencies, harmonised our strategies and acted decisively on credible intelligence,” Ododo said.
The governor said the joint operation, executed overnight, uncovered a major criminal camp where a significant stockpile of weapons was concealed.
Though no arrests were made, he described the recovery as “a major and strategic breakthrough in the fight against crime.”
He said the state’s location, which borders 10 other states and connects several major routes, presents persistent security challenges but assured that Kogi remains vigilant.
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“Kogi State is fully alert. The DSS, the police, the military, the navy and all other security agencies are working relentlessly, day and night. We will never bow to criminals, and we will never negotiate with them,” he said.
Ododo urged residents to support law enforcement by providing credible intelligence, stressing that security agencies were making tangible progress toward making the state uninhabitable for criminals.
During the briefing, he listed the recovered items to include 24 AK-47 rifles, 23 pump-action rifles, one Tavor rifle, one FN rifle, four Barrett pistols, four Browning rifles, 42 magazines, and 520 rounds of GPMG 7.62mm ammunition.
Other recovered materials were several AK-47 magazines, cartridges, handcuffs, tear gas canisters, holsters, and components of submachine guns.
Ododo said the breakthrough came through effective collaboration among security agencies acting on actionable intelligence.
He thanked President Tinubu, the Director-General of the Department of State Services, the Chief of Defence Staff, Service Chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police, and the leadership of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps for their support.
The governor reassured residents that the situation was under control. “There is no cause for alarm. Our people should go about their lawful activities without fear,” he said.