Trending 
The Kogi State Government says a coordinated operation involving the Nigerian Military, Nigeria Police Force, Kogi State Vigilante Service and local hunters has successfully foiled a planned terrorist attack in Ikoyi, Ijumu Local Government Area.
The incident occurred at about 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 6, 2026, when armed men reportedly invaded a community gathering with the intention of abducting residents and causing panic.
The Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, said in a statement on Sunday that the swift intervention of security agencies prevented what he described as a potentially serious security breach.
According to the government, security operatives responded within minutes of a distress alert, engaging the attackers in a gun battle that disrupted their operation and forced them to retreat into nearby forest areas.
He stated that the combined efforts of the military, police, vigilantes and local hunters ensured the attackers were repelled before they could achieve their objective.
Fanwo also disclosed that intelligence reports indicated that several of the attackers were believed to have sustained gunshot wounds during the exchange of fire before fleeing the scene, adding that a manhunt had been launched to apprehend them.
He further confirmed that one member of the local Tiv community was killed in the crossfire, while another person was injured and is currently receiving medical treatment.
The government called on residents to remain vigilant and to report individuals showing suspicious injuries or seeking treatment for gunshot wounds to security agencies.
Fanwo said the incident demonstrated the effectiveness of the state’s community-based security structure, noting that collaboration between conventional security agencies, vigilantes and local hunters had been key to the response.
He added that reforms in the Kogi State Vigilante Service had strengthened intelligence gathering and improved rapid response across the state.
The government commended all security personnel involved in the operation and reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining peace and ensuring that criminal elements find no safe haven in Kogi State.
