ABUJA: The Nigerian Army has debunked reports alleging that armed bandits overran its troops in Kwara State and carted away heavy weapons and ammunition.
In a statement by Lieutenant Colonel Policao Okoye, Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, 2 Division, the military described the online publication as false, misleading, and a deliberate attempt to weaken public confidence in ongoing security operations in Nigeria.
Okoye explained that troops of the 148 Battalion (Rear), currently carrying out clearance operations across Kogi and Kwara States, have continued to achieve operational successes. He noted that in a recent encounter along the Kwara–Ekiti border, soldiers neutralized two armed bandits and recovered two brand-new AK-47 rifles.
“At no time were Nigerian Army positions in Kwara State overrun, nor did we lose any General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs) or thousands of rounds of ammunition as claimed in the report,” Okoye clarified.
The Army spokesman stressed that the story was fabricated to mislead the public and undermine the morale of gallant soldiers working tirelessly to restore peace and stability across Nigeria.
He assured that the Nigerian Army remains committed to sustaining counter-banditry operations until all criminal networks in Kogi, Kwara, and neighboring states are dismantled.
“The public should disregard the false report and continue to support the military with timely and credible information to aid ongoing security operations,” he said.
