Tinubu Commends Troops After Operation Kills Bandit Leader Bastuji in Kogi

In Kogi State, the Nigerian Armed Forces conducted a successful military operation that eliminated Ibrahim Bastuji, a notorious bandit leader. President Bola Tinubu commended this action, characterizing it as a major setback for criminal networks active across Kogi and its neighbouring states.

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, released an official statement announcing these developments. The President issued a stern caution to criminals nationwide, asserting that perpetrators of violence against innocent people will discover no sanctuary anywhere.

Tinubu highlighted how Bastuji's period of control had inflicted violence, kidnapping campaigns, and civilian assaults, resulting in considerable suffering among area residents. The statement indicated that Bastuji's neutralization would aid in rebuilding trust among the public and offering respite to threatened communities.

The operation also achieved an additional outcome: rescue of Hajiya Amina Rabe Abubakar, the widow of the late General Rabe Abubakar. However, media accounts vary in how consistently they report this detail across different coverage.

In a complementary initiative, Tinubu endorsed recruitment of 1,000 forest guards for Katsina State to bolster local security measures. Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina State made public the Presidential endorsement following a gathering with religious leaders and other stakeholders at the Government House.

Together, these actions—eliminating the bandit kingpin through military means and expanding protective personnel—demonstrate the government's resolve toward tackling kidnapping and banditry throughout regions vulnerable to such threats.