How Governor Ododo Briefed NSA Ribadu In Abuja Over Elimination Of Notorious Terrorist Leader Ibrahim Battijo, Foiled WAEC Students Abduction In Kogi
By: Odeh Favour Adiya
The Nigerian security forces have recorded a massive breakthrough in the ongoing war against criminality as a joint operational team successfully eliminated a notorious terrorist leader and bandit commander, Kachalla Ibrahim Battijo, alongside over 15 of his gang members during a fierce encounter in Kogi State.
A dramatic video of the operation is currently trending wildly across various online platforms and social media spaces. The viral footage, which has sparked intense reactions nationwide, captures the intense moment troops of the Twelve Brigade of the Nigerian Army stormed the dense forest to locate the shallow grave where the neutralized terror leader had been buried.
Fresh details emerging from an official briefing in Abuja reveal that the success of the high-stakes operation relied heavily on a robust collaborative network.
According to a statement released by the Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, the historic feat was achieved by a joint force comprising federal security agencies, the Kogi State Vigilante Service, and local hunters who bravely confronted the terrorists in their hideout.
The joint forces utilized highly sophisticated intelligence and advanced surveillance assets to track the criminal gang’s movements. This actionable intelligence uncovered a sinister plot by Battijo and his network to execute a mass abduction of students writing their West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) at Government Secondary School, Iluke, in the Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area. In a brilliant tactical maneuver, security forces swiftly relocated the vulnerable students to safety before launching a decisive, crushing counter-attack on the terrorists.
During the fierce gun battle that ensued on June 10, 2026, the notorious bandit leader was successfully neutralized.
Following the initial encounter, the Commander of the Twelve Brigade, Brigadier General Karim Sidi, led a thorough clearance operation into the remote forest near Iluke on June 15, 2026. This led to the recovery of more than fifteen bodies of the bandits who tried to flee the heavy firepower, while Battijo’s remains were exhumed from a shallow grave for detailed forensic analysis. Beyond saving the school children, Battijo had also been identified as the strategic mastermind behind the recent deadly church attack in Eruku, Kwara State.
Reacting to the development during an official meeting in Abuja, the Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, formally briefed the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, on the milestone.
Governor Ododo expressed his profound appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his unwavering commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture, noting that the victory is a clear indication that the President’s security initiatives are yielding measurable results.
The Governor further called on all citizens to continue supporting the nation’s security institutions, stressing that collective resolve remains essential to making terrorism and banditry relics of the past.
He firmly warned that the state will maintain a zero-tolerance policy for criminals, stating, “Kogi State will never be a safe haven for terrorists, bandits, or any criminal group. We will continue to work with federal security agencies to protect our people,” the Governor stressed in the statement.
In his response, the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, described the elimination of Kachalla Battijo as a major milestone and a historic breakthrough in the national fight against terrorism. The NSA highly commended Governor Ododo for his proactive commitment and visionary leadership in securing Kogi State, which serves as a strategic gateway state for the entire country.
