Kwara State, Nigeria — Armed bandits have reportedly ambushed a Nigerian Army joint task force in Obanla, Kwara State, seizing several heavy weapons and tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition, according to security sources.
At least six General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs) and more than 30,000 rounds of ammunition were taken during the attack, which occurred last month. The assailants, described as a heavily armed gang, are believed to be the same group currently operating in parts of Kogi State, where several deadly assaults have been recorded in recent days.
Sources within the security establishment told SaharaReporters that the bandits appeared to have obtained advance intelligence on the military’s planned operations, enabling them to set up a successful ambush.
“Their modus operandi is to get intelligence of impending military response and ambush them,” one security operative said.
According to reports, while the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) initially tracked the movement of the armed group, it later declined requests for sustained aerial support during the engagement. This lack of coordination reportedly allowed the bandits to overpower the troops and make away with military weapons and ammunition.
Senior officers described the incident as another example of poor inter-agency cooperation among Nigeria’s security forces. “The Army and the Police could not coordinate effectively, and even when the Air Force was invited to provide crucial aerial support, they simply refused to respond,” one officer said.
Following the incident, the Kwara State Government was said to have circulated an old video clip of an aerial bombardment as evidence of a successful operation. However, the footage was later found to be from a previous Nigerian Air Force mission in Borno State in October 2024.
The alleged use of outdated footage sparked criticism, with observers linking it to ongoing concerns about misinformation and lack of transparency in official responses to insecurity.
Security analysts warn that the loss of such large quantities of weapons could further escalate violence in north-central Nigeria, where armed groups have continued to expand their activities across state boundaries.
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