The Nigerian Army has denied reports claiming that bandits attacked its troops in Obanla, Kwara State, and made away with guns and ammunition.
In a statement on Sunday, Lieutenant Colonel Polycarp Okoye, Deputy Director of Army Public Relations for the 2 Division, described the report as false and misleading.
He said the story, which alleged that troops were overrun and six General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs) and over 30,000 rounds of ammunition were stolen, was a fabrication meant to mislead the public and dampen troop morale.
“At no time were Army positions overrun, nor was any cache of weapons or ammunition lost to criminal elements,” Okoye clarified. The publication is a deliberate attempt to create panic and undermine the morale of our gallant troops.”
Okoye explained that soldiers from the 148 Battalion (Rear) have continued to record significant operational successes in clearance operations across Kogi and Kwara States.
He noted that in one recent operation, troops mounted a strong blocking position along the Kwara–Ekiti border, where they neutralized two armed bandits and recovered two brand-new AK-47 rifles.
The Army urged Nigerians to disregard the false report and continue supporting security agencies with useful information.
“The Nigerian Army remains committed to ending all forms of criminality across the country,” Okoye said.
“We will sustain the tempo of operations until every criminal network in Kogi, Kwara, and nearby states is dismantled.”
Nigerian Army dismisses claims of bandits seizing weapons in Kwara