The Kogi State Government has declared an all-out war against criminals operating within its borders. This decisive stance was announced by Kingsley Femi Fanwo, the Commissioner for Information and Communications, in a statement released on Saturday in Lokoja. Fanwo emphasized that under Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s leadership, the government is determined to combat and defeat the recent surge in criminal activities.
Fanwo highlighted the success of recent security operations, noting the rescue of 21 out of the 24 students from the Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH) who were kidnapped last week. He also reported the rescue of two kidnapped women from Yagba West and Yagba East Local Government Areas. Efforts are ongoing to rescue the remaining three students still in captivity. The government has also secured the release of numerous other kidnap victims, including non-residents abducted from other states and taken to Kogi’s forests.
Fanwo stated, “The recent displacement of insurgents, bandits, and kidnappers from the North East has led them to seek refuge in the North Central region. However, the Kogi State Government is taking a firm stand, employing an iron-cast approach to protect the state from these criminal elements.”
In response to the escalating threat, Governor Ododo has approved the immediate recruitment of thousands of local hunters across the state’s 21 Local Government Areas. These hunters are tasked with pursuing the criminals directly to their camps and hideouts, a strategy that has already shown promising results.
Additionally, joint security forces comprising the Army, Police, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Metropolitan Response Squad, and local hunters are conducting simultaneous operations in Lokoja and across the three senatorial districts, including border communities.
Governor Ododo expressed profound gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his support in the state’s security efforts. He reassured the public that the government is committed to ensuring the safety of all residents and making Kogi State inhospitable to criminals. “The criminals are learning the hard way that Kogi won’t be a ground for their criminal trade. They are rattled and they won’t escape justice,” Ododo asserted.
The state government also called on citizens to support these efforts by providing intelligence to security agencies, emphasizing that community cooperation is crucial for maintaining effective security.
