Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello says four armed men were gunned down during an exchange of gunfire with men of the Nigeria Police and local vigilantes on Monday evening along the Abuja-Lokoja Expressway.
Bello says the bandits who lurk around the Lokoja-Gegu-Abaji section of the road took to the highway to attack travellers when they met their dead end.
Four other members of the gang he says were arrested with four AK-47 and several rounds of ammunition while engaging in kidnapping and robbery.
Governor Bello commends the efforts of security operatives in the State in combating crimes on the highways.
He specifically eulogised the vigilante personnel for their gallantry in foiling the daring antics of undesirable elements on the Lokoja-Gegu-Abaji section of the Abuja-Lokoja Expressway.
He described the dexterity of the combined security architecture as brave and sacrificial.
The Governor who made this known to newsmen on Tuesday through his Chief Press Secretary says he was aware of the positive impact of community policing, which was the reason his administration embarked on the recruitment and training of 6,000 vigilantes in 2017, noting that such initiative has yielded tremendous results.
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He said he will not surrender in the war his administration has wedged against insecurity until all criminal elements in the State and those who come into the State to commit crimes are flushed out.
Governor Bello reiterated his administration’s commitment to continue to support all security agencies in the State to enhance their operations.
AIT had earlier reported that four suspected kidnappers were killed by operatives of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, F-SARS in a gun battle along the Abaji-Lokoja section of the Abuja-Lokoja Expressway.
Eye witness account has it that the criminals had also planned to stage a massive attack on different communities on the axis but were repelled by the local vigilante and F-SARS operatives stationed in Achabo community.
