Kogi Govt says security operatives intercept 21 underage children in suspected bandit recruitment scheme

The Kogi State Government has announced that security operatives have intercepted 21 underage children who were allegedly trafficked into the state in what authorities believe may be a clandestine recruitment effort for banditry training.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the government said the minors were rescued during a coordinated operation involving local security agencies after intelligence indicated suspicious movement of young persons into the state.

Officials disclosed that preliminary findings suggest the children were being transported from neighbouring states by individuals linked to criminal networks seeking to expand their recruitment base.

The government described the development as a disturbing indication of the evolving tactics of armed groups, particularly their growing reliance on vulnerable minors for operational activities.

Kogi authorities said the rescued children are currently in protective custody, where they are receiving care and undergoing profiling to identify their families and places of origin.

The state assured residents that it is deepening surveillance across all entry points and strengthening inter-agency intelligence sharing to prevent similar infiltration attempts.

It also reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining security in the state, warning criminal elements that Kogi would remain hostile territory for those attempting to use its geography as a base for recruitment or operations.