Police confirm terrorists’ attack on Obajana town, home of Dangote Cement

The police in Kogi have confirmed that terrorists in their hundreds on Sunday night (January 11) invaded Obajana, Kogi State, home of the gigantic Dangote Cement company, and shot sporadically for more than six hours.

The terrorists were said to have come for retaliatory attacks on the divisional Police Station and the Operational Base of security agents who launched attacks on bandits in the area recently.

Scores of residents who spoke with our Correspondent expressed serious grief over the incident, with some of them blaming the state government for not making any deliberate efforts at checking the influx of criminals and bandits into the state through  the numerous trucks of cement companies that operate in the state.

They claimed that these truck drivers have brought into the state large numbers of Foreign Nationals from Niger Republic, Chad , Mali and Senegal with large consignment of arms unchecked by the state government, alleging that such “untoward” development constituted a serious threat to the peace and security of the state.

Accordingly, they called on the state government to immediately inaugurate a security committee including the Army , DSS, Police and local vigilantes, to mount daily surveillance on the major roads especially those coming from the core north to Kogi, to stop and search any vehicles carrying foreign nationals or questionable characters and consignments into the state.

Obajana and Iluhagba communities where two cement companies operate, are said to be havens for these illegal foreign nationals and street urchins from the far North.

It was, however, learnt that the Sunday attack by the terrorists was repelled through the joint efforts of the Army, Police, Vigilantes and the traditional hunters in the area.

Confirming the incident in a press statement, the Police Public Relations Officer, Willy Aya said
the Police had “foiled an attempted attack on the Obajana Operational Base by suspected criminal elements and successfully arrested several suspects.”

According to the statement, the police had on January 10 conducted a clearance and aggressive operation, supported by the Nigeria Police Force Air Wing through precision airstrikes, across identified flashpoints, hideouts, and assembly points known to be frequented by bandits and other criminal elements within Kogi State.

He added that the operation recorded significant success, which is believed to have provoked sleeper cells of the hoodlums.

” In a bid to retaliate, the criminal elements attempted to launch an attack on assets and facilities at the Obajana Operational Base. However, the attempt was swiftly repelled as Police operatives on duty conducted a coordinated counter-drill, effectively neutralising and degrading the assailants.

“As a result of the operation, several suspects were arrested, many of whom sustained varying degrees of gunshot injuries during the exchange. Law enforcement actions are ongoing to track and apprehend other fleeing suspects, as well as to unravel the source and motive behind the attack on the Police Operational Base.

“The Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Special Operation in Kogi State, AIG Alonyenu F. Idu, accompanied by the Commissioner of Police, Kogi State Command, CP Naziru Bello Kankarofi, psc, mni, visited the scene for an on-the-spot assessment.

“During the visit, the AIG commended and motivated the officers and men at the Operational Base, urging them to sustain their courage, vigilance, and professionalism in the ongoing onslaught against banditry and other criminal activities in the State.

‘The Nigeria Police Force reassures the good people of Kogi State, particularly residents of Obajana and its environs, that sustained security operations currently ongoing will be intensified and sustained until all criminal syndicates are completely dismantled.

“Members of the public are encouraged to support the Police by providing timely and useful information and to promptly report suspicious movements, strange persons, or groups to the nearest law enforcement agency. Such cooperation remains vital to sustaining peace, safety, and harmony across the State” the statement stressed,” the statement read, in part.