Army reports three suspected kidnappers killed in Kogi

The Nigerian Army said a joint operation with the Kogi State Vigilance Service killed three suspected kidnappers in Igalamela-Odolu Local Government Area on November 4 and recovered four AK-47 rifles and other items. The Army said the team searched from Edimogbo Forest toward Obele Forest for suspected kidnappers. Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations Hassan Abdullahi said the suspects tried to escape after seeing the security team, prompting an encounter in which three were killed. The military account said others fled. Abdullahi said the search recovered 12 magazines, 336 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, three bandoliers and an identity card, in addition to the rifles. The account was issued by the Army; the reports did not provide independent verification of the reported killings, the suspects’ identities or the recoveries. The operation followed two days of Army activity in Edimogbo Forest. The Army said a raid on November 2 targeted a suspected hideout and recovered about 1,000 rounds of ammunition and six motorcycles. In a follow-up operation on November 3, troops killed two suspected kidnappers and recovered two AK-47 rifles, according to the Army. The...