EXCLUSIVE REPORT: Bandits Overrun Nigerian Army in Kwara, Cart Away Six Machine Guns and 30,000 Rounds of Ammunition as Air Force Declines Support

 

EXCLUSIVE REPORT: Bandits Overrun Nigerian Army in Kwara, Cart Away Six Machine Guns and 30,000 Rounds of Ammunition as Air Force Declines Support

By Dr. Odimientimi Agbedeyi

October 5, 2025 | Global Egberi Media International

The fragile state of Nigeria’s security architecture has once again been laid bare as heavily armed bandits overpowered a Nigerian Army joint task force in Obanla, Kwara State, seizing six General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs) and more than 30,000 rounds of ammunition.

According to multiple security sources, the attackers are the same terror gang currently unleashing bloodshed in parts of Kogi State, where dozens of lives have been lost in recent days. The development raises pressing questions about intelligence gathering, inter-agency cooperation, and the overall readiness of Nigeria’s military to confront unconventional threats.

How the Ambush Happened

Sources revealed that the bandits staged a calculated ambush after receiving intelligence on the Army’s planned operations. A senior military officer confided:

“Last month, six General Purpose Machine Guns and over 30,000 rounds of ammunition were seized from the Nigerian Army in Obanla, Kwara State. The gang is the same group now wreaking havoc in Kogi.”

Their tactics, insiders disclosed, relied on infiltrating the information chain, laying traps, and striking before soldiers could organize a coordinated response.

Air Force Declines Support

Perhaps the most shocking revelation is that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) declined requests for sustained aerial support during the fierce firefight. While NAF initially tracked the armed group’s movement, it later withdrew, leaving ground troops exposed.

“The Army and Police could not coordinate effectively. Even when the Air Force was invited for crucial aerial strikes, they refused to respond,” another officer lamented.

This lack of synergy between Nigeria’s security agencies once again highlights a long-running problem of rivalry and institutional arrogance within the country’s defence structure.

Fake Footage and Propaganda

In the aftermath, the Kwara State Government attempted to calm public fear by circulating an old video clip of an aerial bombardment as evidence of a “successful operation.” The footage, however, was quickly exposed as fake.

SaharaReporters earlier confirmed that the photographs and videos circulated by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s media aide, Olayinka Fafoluyi (popularly known as Solace), were actually from an Air Force operation in Borno State in October 2024 under Operation HADIN KAI. The propaganda effort has only further eroded public trust in government narratives.

Bloodbath in Kogi

Even more disturbing are the consequences of the Kwara ambush. With newfound weaponry, the bandits launched a series of devastating attacks in Kogi State. On Saturday, October 4, at least 27 people were massacred in Yagba West Local Government Area. Eyewitnesses described the invaders as heavily armed, with sophisticated firepower far superior to local vigilante units.

The attacks have been relentless. In Bareke, Egbe, and Ejiba communities, bandits kidnapped residents, killed civilians, and set motorcycles ablaze. A bread distributor was ambushed and shot, while three people were abducted from Bethel Farm in Ejiba. Entire villages, such as Okunran, now lie deserted as frightened families flee to safety.

A Nation Under Siege

This latest development underscores a grim reality: Nigeria is not losing the war on terror because of insufficient firepower, but because of crippling inefficiency, disunity, and the absence of trust within its security agencies.

As one military source warned:

“This is why insecurity persists, not because Nigeria lacks firepower, but because those entrusted with securing the nation are locked in rivalry, inefficiency, and institutional arrogance.”

For residents of Kwara and Kogi States, the tragedy is immediate—loved ones lost, homes deserted, and uncertainty looming over the future. For Nigeria as a whole, it is yet another wake-up call demanding accountability and reform in the nation’s fractured security system.

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Source: Sahara Reporters

Tags: Bandits, Kwara Attack, Nigerian Army, Kogi Killings, DESOPADEC, National Security, Dr. Odimientimi Agbedeyi