Batijo Kachala has been on the radar of security agencies for some time following a series of attacks he coordinated before he was finally killed by security forces.
KaNo —
The Kogi State Government has confirmed the killing of a suspected bandit kingpin, Kachala Batijo, in a coordinated security operation targeting criminal networks operating in parts of the state.
Authorities say the development marks a significant breakthrough in ongoing efforts to curb insecurity, particularly in the Kabba/Bunu axis.
The State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, disclosed the development on Tuesday during an interview on Channels TV’s Sunrise Daily.
Fanwo explained that intelligence reports had earlier identified Batijo as the mastermind behind a series of planned attacks on schools across Kogi State, prompting swift preventive measures by the government.
Among these was the temporary closure of schools in vulnerable communities, a decision he described as difficult but necessary to protect students.
“It was a process that took a very long time,” Fanwo said.
“We got intelligence that he wanted to attack our schools, and while we were working on getting him, we shut down our schools for more than three weeks. It was painful, but they were unable to take our children.”he added
The commissioner revealed that further intelligence indicated that the group had specifically targeted candidates sitting for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) at Government Secondary School (GSS), Iluke.
In response, the state government relocated students from more remote schools to Iluke town, where security presence was strengthened and surveillance intensified.
“They attacked a few places, including attempting to take away students from the school, but it was foiled. They could not take a single student,” he stated
He credited the swift response of local vigilantes and security forces for preventing what could have been a mass abduction.
The failed attack triggered an intensified manhunt for the perpetrators, culminating in the operation that led to Batijo’s death.
According to Fanwo, more than 15 bodies believed to be members of the criminal group have been recovered since the operation.
He added that security operatives recently carried out a follow-up mission at the suspected burial site of the bandit leader, where additional suspects were reportedly killed.
“We are very confident that he is the one, but we will still subject that to scientific confirmation,” the commissioner noted
On June 1, suspected gunmen attacked the Ayegunle Bunu community, killing several residents and abducting travellers along a major road in the area.
In a subsequent military operation, the Nigerian Army confirmed the rescue of 23 kidnapped victims.
In response to the growing threat, the state government imposed a series of security restrictions across affected communities.
These measures included a ban on commercial motorcycle operations in certain hinterland areas, restrictions on the sale of fuel in jerrycans, closure of selected markets, and a curfew prohibiting movement on state-owned roads after 7 p.m.
“We are determined not to allow these criminals take over any part of our state. Every step we are taking is to ensure the safety of lives and property,” he said
Authorities say the measures are designed to disrupt the logistics and mobility of criminal groups operating within forested regions.
Fanwo reiterated that the government remains committed to sustaining the gains achieved by security forces and preventing bandits from regrouping.
Nigerian Navy Uncovers Oil Theft Site In Niger Delta
The Nigerian Navy has uncovered a concealed crude oil storage site believed to be part of an illegal oil theft network in the Niger Delta.
The discovery was announced in Abuja by the Director of Naval Information, Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, in an operational report made available to the News Agency of Nigeria.
He said personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) DELTA carried out the operation under Operation Delta Sentinel following credible intelligence on suspected oil theft activities in the Ugbokodo Creek area of Delta State.
According to Folorunsho, the location initially appeared devoid of suspicious activity.
“Further observation and drone imagery exposed the concealed reservoir, which was deliberately camouflaged to evade detection,” he said.
The operation led to the recovery of approximately 17,000 litres of substances suspected to be stolen crude oil.
The naval spokesperson noted that the site bore clear signs of recent activity and was likely used as a temporary storage facility within a broader illicit supply chain.
He described the discovery as evidence of the increasingly sophisticated methods employed by oil thieves to sustain their operations.
Despite these evolving tactics, he said the Navy’s integration of intelligence-led strategies and advanced surveillance technology continues to yield results.
“The reservoir, recovered products, and associated materials were handled in line with operational procedures, effectively denying economic saboteurs the resources needed to continue their activities,” Folorunsho added.
He reaffirmed the Navy’s commitment to intensifying efforts under Operation Delta Sentinel, emphasising the importance of protecting Nigeria’s critical energy infrastructure.
According to him, sustained surveillance, inter-agency collaboration, and strategic operations remain central to combating crude oil theft in the region.
The twin developments underscore ongoing security challenges in different parts of the country, from banditry in the North-Central region to economic sabotage in the oil-rich Niger Delta.
Authorities maintain that recent successes are the result of coordinated intelligence and operational synergy among security agencies, even as calls persist for more comprehensive strategies to address the root causes of insecurity.
