Lokoja
The centrality of Kogi state has made it imperative for the Federation government to inject more funds in security life and property to win the war against crime and criminality in the country.
The Security Adviser, to Kogi state Governor, retired Commander Jerry Omodara, made the remark while speaking with journalists in Lokoja.
The governor’s aide maintained that as a gateway from North to South of the country, the state needed more money to fight banditry, drug trafficking and kidnapping.
According to him, the need for more money for the state to confront criminality with renewed vigour is also because it shares boundary with many states.
“As you pursue criminals from Edo, Delta, Ekiti, Ondo, Kwara, Nasarawa, Benue and other states, they come to Kogi and our dtate needs to be safe for the Federal Capital Territory to be safe,” he said.
Retired Commander Omodara said the tate needed more than 10,000 Police men, saying the recent establishment of 2 squadrons of Mobile Police in Kogi West and Central Senatorial districts would enhance security in the state.
He said criminals did not know their targets by political party, religious or ethnic background, stressing that the people needed to assist security agents with information, for efficient war against criminality.
The State Security Adviser said that the recent review of the state security architecture had yielded positive results as there had been no report of kidnapping during the time under review.
Omodara restated the commitment of the Administration of Governor Yahaya Bello not to negotiate with criminals, adding that some arrests had been made while investigation is ongoing on other security issues.
He warned that any house found to be used by criminals or built with proceeds from crimes would be demolished.
Duaglobalnews recalls that no fewer than 16 persons were kidnapped in the the state about two weeks ago while the governor gave the marching order to heads of higher institutions in the stste to stamp out cultists.
This is addition to the establishment of two Mobile Police outfits in Okene Local government area and Lokoja-Obajana road, all in the state,to check criminality in the state.
