The Nigerian Army has dismissed as false the report alleging that bandits attacked its troops in Obanla, Kwara State, and carted away rifles and ammunition.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, 2 Division, Lieutenant Colonel Polycarp Okoye, described the publication as a fabrication intended to mislead the public and undermine the morale of personnel.
According to him, the story—which claimed that troops were overpowered and lost six General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs) and over 30,000 rounds of ammunition—was entirely baseless.
“At no time were Army positions overrun, nor was any cache of weapons or ammunition lost to criminal elements,” Okoye clarified. “The report is a deliberate attempt to create unnecessary panic and dampen the spirit of our gallant troops.”
He added that soldiers of the 148 Battalion (Rear) have continued to make significant gains in ongoing clearance operations across Kwara and neighbouring Kogi States.
Okoye revealed that in a recent engagement, troops stationed along the Kwara–Ekiti border neutralised two armed bandits and recovered two brand-new AK-47 rifles, reaffirming the Army’s operational dominance in the area.
The statement urged Nigerians to disregard what it termed “fake news” and continue to support the military with credible intelligence that could aid its operations.
“The Nigerian Army remains resolute in its mission to rid the nation of all criminal elements,” Okoye stated. “We will sustain the tempo of operations until every criminal network within Kogi, Kwara, and adjoining states is dismantled.”
