Army destroys suspected kidnappers' camp in Kogi forest, recovers 1,000 rounds
- Army troops destroyed a suspected kidnappers' camp in Edimogbo Forest, Igalamela/Odolu LGA, Kogi State.
- The 21 Battalion Quick Reaction Force recovered 1,000 rounds of ammunition, seven bandoliers and six motorcycles.
- The suspects fled after firing a warning shot; the Army says it is still hunting them.
Army troops have destroyed a camp in Edimogbo Forest, in Igalamela/Odolu Local Government Area of Kogi State, that they believe was used by kidnappers. The operation was carried out by the 21 Battalion Quick Reaction Force, the Army said in a statement on Monday.
The Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, said the troops moved after receiving intelligence that suspected kidnappers were hiding in the forest. She said they found the camp and moved in to clear it.
According to the statement, the suspects fired a single shot when they saw the soldiers coming, apparently to warn the rest of the group, then ran deeper into the forest. The troops chased them but did not catch up with them, Anele said.
The soldiers then destroyed the camp and the structures around it.
What was found
The Army listed the items recovered as 1,000 rounds of 7.62mm by 54 ammunition, seven bandoliers, two shovels, a hand pump, a mobile phone, a Glo modem, two packets of soap, a jerrycan of petrol, clothing, pairs of shoes and six motorcycles.
The statement said troops are still searching the surrounding area for the fleeing suspects.
The Army said it would keep up operations against kidnappers and other criminal groups, and asked Nigerians to keep passing useful and timely information to security agencies.
Why it matters
Kidnapping for ransom has become a serious worry for many Nigerian families, especially along highways and in forested areas where armed groups camp. Forests in Kogi and neighbouring states have been repeatedly named by security agencies as hideouts.
Recovering ammunition and motorcycles matters because both are tools of the trade for such groups: the rounds for their weapons, the bikes for moving victims and evading patrols.
Still, the suspects are on the loose, and the Army did not say whether anyone was arrested. Residents of communities around Igalamela/Odolu should expect more troop movement in the coming days as the search continues.
