The Nigerian Army has rejected a report alleging that bandits overran troops and carted away weapons in Kwara state.
In a statement on Sunday, Polycarp Okoye, deputy director of army public relations, 2 Division, described the publication as “false and aimed at misleading the public”.
The online report had claimed that armed bandits ambushed soldiers in the Obanla area, seizing six General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs) and 30,000 rounds of ammunition.
Okoye said the story was fabricated to create panic and undermine the morale of troops deployed for internal security operations.
He said soldiers of the 148 battalion (rear), currently carrying out clearance missions across Kogi and Kwara states, have continued to record significant victories against criminal gangs.
“In a recent encounter, troops mounted a blocking position along the Kwara–Ekiti border, neutralised two armed bandits, and recovered two brand-new AK-47 rifles,” he said.
