Troops of the Nigerian Army under Operation MESA have arrested a suspected terrorist informant believed to be linked to a notorious bandit leader during a security operation in Lokoja Local Government Area of Kogi State.

Security sources disclosed to Zagazola Makama that the suspect was apprehended at about 11:59 p.m. on June 1 during a joint operation involving troops of the 12 Brigade and local vigilantes.

According to the sources, the troops were pursuing suspected terrorists along a known route within the Adankolo Forest when they intercepted the suspect in the Odo Ape Forest area.

“Troops were pursuing fleeing terrorists along a known terrorist route within the Adankolo Forest when they intercepted a suspect in the Odo Ape Forest area,” a security source said.

Preliminary investigations reportedly identified the suspect as a close informant to a notorious terrorist leader known as Kachallah Baccujo.

Security sources further revealed that two mobile phones were recovered from the suspect during the operation.

“The arrested individual was subsequently handed over to the Department of State Services for further investigation and necessary action,” the source added.

The suspect is currently in the custody of the Department of State Services for further investigation.

The arrest is said to be part of ongoing efforts by security agencies to dismantle terrorist and bandit networks operating within Kogi State and neighbouring areas.

Suspected bandits, on Wednesday evening, stormed the Ijalu area of Egbe in Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State, kidnapping a woman and her toddler in an attack that has left residents gripped by fear.

The victims, identified as Mrs Idowu Kemi Titilayo and her young child, were whisked away by the assailants during the raid along the Solid Rock School axis of the community.

The criminals were said to have invaded the area at dusk, firing sporadically and causing panic among residents, many of whom fled for safety.

At the time of filing this report, the State Police Command is yet to make comment on the incident.

The latest abduction comes amid continued concerns over kidnappings and violent attacks in parts of the North-Central region of the country.

An auto-crash has claimed the lives of six persons, including members of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, along the Narehi area of the Girei-Song Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

The State police spokesman, Suleiman Nguroje, in a statement said the incident involved a military Gun truck travelling from Gombi towards Yola and a commercial Hummer bus conveying five (5) passengers from Yola to Mubi.

“Preliminary findings reveal that both vehicles were involved in a head-on collision, resulting in the commercial bus flipping over and bursting into flames.

“Tragically, all five passengers aboard the Hummer bus were burnt to death after the vehicle caught fire following the collision,” the statement read in part.

According to him, preliminary identification revealed that four of the deceased were serving members of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, posted to Adamawa State.

He added that they were identified as Suleuman Juliet and Usman Shuaibu, who are both indigenes of Kaduna State. But the remaining are yet to be identified, the police said.

The spokesman further stated that police authorities confirm that one military personnel attached to the military vehicle lost his life as a result of the crash.

“The corpses have been evacuated to the Specialist Hospital, Yola, while efforts are ongoing to identify the remaining bodies and locate their families,” the police said.

Nguroje quoted the Commissioner of Police in Adamawa as expressing his heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased, the Nigerian Armed Forces, the National Youth Service Corps, and all those affected by this tragic incident.