In a shocking turn of events, heavily armed terrorists have reportedly overpowered a Nigerian Army unit in Obanla, Kwara State, seizing six General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs) and over 30,000 rounds of live ammunition.
According to reliable military sources, the attack occurred last month when the armed group ambushed soldiers from a joint task force during an operation.
The incident, which has now raised serious questions about Nigeria’s deteriorating security coordination, allegedly took place after the Air Force failed to respond to distress calls from ground troops.
“Last month, six General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs) and over 30,000 rounds of ammunition were seized from the Nigerian Army in Obanla, Kwara State,” a senior officer familiar with the development confirmed.
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“It was seized by bandits from the Nigerian Army’s joint task force. They’re the ones that have now reached Kogi and are wreaking havoc,” the source added.
Another security operative explained that the assailants often receive inside information about planned military raids, allowing them to set up deadly ambushes.
“Their modus operandi is to get intelligence of impending military response and ambush them,” he said.
Reports from the field suggest that while the Air Force initially tracked the movement of the bandits, it later withdrew aerial surveillance and declined further assistance during the gun battle.
The lack of air support reportedly left the soldiers vulnerable, giving the attackers ample time to overpower them and cart away the weapons.
A senior officer criticised the breakdown of coordination among the military branches, describing it as a recurring problem that continues to endanger troops on the frontlines.
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“The operation once again exposed the deep lack of synergy between Nigeria’s security agencies,” the officer said.
“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.”
Sources further alleged that, in an attempt to downplay the incident, the Kwara State Government was later given an old video clip of an airstrike to circulate as evidence of a successful operation.
The footage was later exposed as fake.
“The state governor was then given an old video of an aerial bombardment to circulate; this was later exposed to be fake,” another source confirmed.
Analysts say the incident reflects the deep rot in Nigeria’s security architecture, where rivalry, complacency, and misinformation have become routine.
They warn that the inability of the country’s security agencies to work together continues to give criminal gangs an upper hand, even as communities in Kwara and neighbouring Kogi live under constant threat of attack.
Story Credit: Sahara Reporters
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