Operatives of the Kogi State Police Command attached to the Okene division successfully conducted a sting operation, resulting in the recovery of firearms, ammunition, and a substantial amount of money, in what it described as a significant breakthrough.

The operations which were carried out in Okene and and Ofu also led to the arrest of a suspect, with efforts underway to apprehend others.

In a press statement signed by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP William Ovye Aya on Thursday, the Police confirmed that following an intelligence tip-off, its operatives swung into action and raided the Yuwander lodge, alleged to be a suspected criminal hideout at Oguda village, where they arrested one 23-year-old Charity Williams.

The statement reads:

KOGI STATE POLICE COMMAND PRESS RELEASE

Unlawful Possession Of Fire Arm: Police Recovers One Locally Made Bareta Pistol, One Locally Made Barel Gun, Six Rounds Of 9mm Live Ammunition, The Sum Of N2, 047,300, And Arrested One Suspect

The operative of the Nigeria Police Force attached to Okene division during an intelligence led-raid operations, arrested one Charity Williams aged 23 years, recovered one locally made barretta pistol, the sum of N2,047,300, six rounds of 9mm live ammunition, hard drugs, axe, and four phones.

This is consequent on the intelligence tip off that a suspected criminal was sighted in Yuwander lodge alleged to be a suspected criminal hideout at Oguda village, Okene. Immediately the police swung into action and raided the lodge. Upon searching one of the rooms which was booked by one Christopher Christopher Kadiri, a lady named Charity Williams aged 23 years was arrested and the above exhibits were recovered from the room. Efforts are on going to apprehend the suspect at large, while investigation is on going.

In another development, the operative attached to Ofu Division recovered one locally made barel gun at Ogbakpedo village located along Itobe-Ayingba road. This is based on a tip off that some persons suspected to be kidnappers were sighted in the bush, immediately the patrol team moved to the scene, on sighting the police, they ran away. Search of the area led to the recovering of one locally made barel gun, cutlass, techno phone among others.

The Commissioner of Police Miller G. Dantawaye, psc, commended the officers for their dedication to duty and reaffirming his unwavering commitment to the fight against criminality in the state.

SP William Ovye Aya,
Police Public Relations Officer,
Kogi State Police Command.
4Th September, 2025.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it’s operatives arrested 273 suspects and made seizures of 6,911.2kg of illicit substances in Kogi State, between January and December.

The Kogi NDLEA Commander, Mr Adeyeye Olusegun, disclosed this on Thursday at a press briefing held at the Command’s headquarters in Lokoja.

Olusegun described the feat as, “very remarkable and steady progress” in demand and supply reduction in the fight against drug abuse and trafficking in Kogi.

“This progress made in the command has come with challenges though surmountable, considering the professional display put up by my officers and men, who worked tirelessly to smoke out substance abusers and traffickers.

“The 6, 911.2kg hard drugs seized within the period are: Cannabis Sativa, Tramadol, Diazepam, Meth, Rohypnol, Pentazocine Injection and Exol-5.

“Others are Cocaine, Codeine, Pethidine Injection, Ergometrine Injection, Nitrous, Oxide and Heroin,” he said.

The commander further disclosed that out of the 273 suspects arrested, 229 are male while 44 are female out of which 17 suspects had been convicted.

According to him, the agency filed 86 cases in the courts and got 17 convictions within the period under review.

He also disclosed that the command was able to seize other exhibits which were not within its purview to activate prosecution but were subsequently transferred to appropriate authority for diligent investigation and prosecution.

The exhibits included: 60 pieces of Military Uniform Vest, 90
Super Power Explosives, two Local Pistols, four Pump Action Rifles, one RLA and 1, 250 pieces of Cartridges, which had all been transferred to the Nigerian Military in Lokoja.

He said that 199 Cartons of Nitrous Oxide, another exhibit discovered in two buses had also been transferred to NAFDAC for investigation and possible prosecution of the suspects involved.

“As part of our drug demand reduction/advocacy activities from January till date,, the command has counseled 147 males and 30 females respectively and has carried out sensitisation programmes in over 12 schools, religion centers, motor parks, market squares and other public places.

“The command has paid advocacy and familiarisation visits to some Royal fathers including the Attah Igala, HRM Mathew Opaluwa-Oguche, and HRM Solomon Oladele-Owoniyi Obaro of Kabba, to seek collaboration in the fight against drug abuse and trafficking.

“The royal fathers have pledged to partner and support the command in the fight against drug abuse in the state, ” he said.

The commander, however, warned drug traffickers and abusers to stay clear of Kogi with their nefarious activities or get arrested to face the full wrath of the law.

He appealed to residents of the state to shun illicit substances and endeavour to report any drug abuser or trafficker to the agency so as to rid the state of criminal elements and instil peace and harmony.

The Kogi State Police Command has solicited for the support and cooperation of residents of the state by providing credible and timely information to the police to help nip crimes in the bud.

The Commissioner of Police, Bethrand Onuoha made the plea in Lokoja on Tuesday while parading suspects at the Command’s headquarters.

Onuoha said the police would not relent in its efforts in crime prevention and public safety.

He warned those engaged in criminal activities to desist from such acts and handover their arms and ammunition to the police or be prepared to face the full wrath of the law.

The CP stressed that the command had adopted a comprehensive crime-prevention and detection strategies as well as operational measures in its onslaught against criminal elements terrorizing the innocent and law-abiding people of the state.

He explained that the police has commenced intensive raids identified as criminal hideouts, black spots and flash points across the state.

The police chief added that the command has also adopted common problem solving strategies for effective results on the community policing, which has improved public confidence in the force.

He further disclosed that the command has provided an avenue for effective collaboration with other critical stakeholders by providing them access to share information and Intelligence that would assist in crime control and management.

According to him, these have occasioned the major successes being recorded by the command in its efforts to curb crime and engender public safety.

While nine suspects for engaging in armed robbery, criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, false alarm and car snatching and unlawful possession of firearm, CP Onuoha said 3 Peugeot cars, 3 AK-47 rifles, 4 Dane guns were recovered from them.

He said the police also recovered 1 locally made pistol, 1 short gun, 1 single barrel gun, 1 cartridge, 3 cutlasses and knives, 5 Palm Oil. Jericans and several charms and amulets from the criminal suspects.

While giving a breakdown of the suspects paraded, the Command paraded Thankgod Joseph and Monday Matthew for armed robbery and the unlawful possession of arms other dangerous weapons.

The duo were alleged to have conspired with one Sumaila Musa, also known as Osama, to invade and rob residents of Onicha-Igo community of their valuables, demolish the community water tank, and also killed one Miss Queen Onoja for no just reasons. They were also alleged to have robbed one Mrs Rachel Agada, kidnapped her housemaid, and made away with her Hilux van.

In the case of criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide and false alarm, the command paraded 28-year old Haruna Adamu, 25-year old Yakubu Mohammed and 18-year old Harisu Abdulrasheed who were paraded for raising false alarm resulting in the lynching of one Usman Abubakar at Ayetoro, kabba-Bunu local government area of the state.

The suspects were alleged to be responsible for the lynching of Abubakar who was accused of manhood theft, after shaking their hands. This attracted a mob action which resulted in his being burnt to death. The suspects were said to have confessed to the crime.

The police also paraded one Daniel David, a suspected car snatcher who specializes in robbing residents of their cars. He was arrested in July, 2023 after a tip-off. Exhibits items, such as a Peugeot 206 car with registration No. YAB 473PR (Abuja); 1 Peugeot 206 car with Chasis No. UF32AKFWF41623345; another Peugeot 406 with registration No. (Abuja) RBC 856 TH, Chasis no. UF:38ERFRE81075091, were recovered from him.

The police also paraded 3 suspected kidnappers, Abdulmumuni Zakari, Akoji Oyibo and Ali Abdulrahman who were alleged to be responsible for the series of kidnapping and robbery of residents of Lokoja metropolis. They were said to have been apprehended at their criminal hideouts at Crusher area of the town. 1 locally made pistol and live cartridge were recovered from them.

Speaking further, CP Onuoha disclosed that operatives of the command in collaboration with the local vigilante at Gegu-beki had embarked on bush-combing culminating in the recovery of 2 AK-47 Magazine, 1 live AK-47 ammunition, 3 MTN lines, 2 Glo lines, 3 Airtel lines, 2 Memory cards, 1 2/60 V-Itel phone, 1 Tecno T52 phone, 1 military camouflage shirt, and 2 pairs of camouflage trousers.

He said the security team engaged the kidnappers in a gun duel, neutralized one, while others escaped. He said efforts were on to arrest the fleeing criminals.

The Commissioner stated that operatives of the command also invaded the camp of kidnapping gang between Oworo and Ogbabon village.

In collaboration with a Fulani volunteer vigilante group, the police neutralized one of the gang members, while others fled. He said items recovered at the camp include 1 AK-47 rifles with Breech No. 19811, and 2 live 7.62mm ammunition.

CP Onuoha used the occasion to admonish political gladiators in the state to play by the rules of the game in the forthcoming governorship election in the state, noting that the rising trend of political brigandage is inimical to peaceful coexistence of the citizenry.

He charged the media to be alive to its responsibility of informing, enlightening and educating the populace on the need to be responsible citizens.