Lokoja
Kogi State Government said had resolved to continue the use of local hunters for improved security of lives and property in the state as part of effort to sustain its policing policy.
The Security Adviser to Governor Yahaya Bello, retired Commander Jerry Omodara, made this known when he received a delegation from Apaa and Agbede in Kabba/Bunu and Oshokoshoko in Lokoja Local Government Areas visited him in his office in Lokoja on Monday.
“We have been using hunters for intelligence gathering and this has helped us greatly, Government will continue to use them for the implementation of our community policing strategy, ” he said.
He said the community policing policy was aimed toward getting more intelligence gathering to ensure that the state is better secured from criminality.
Omodara called on traditional rulers across the state to henceforth liaise with the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs before accommodating strangers in their respective communities.
The State Security Adviser restated that government would not hesitate to demolish any building housing criminals and warned landlords and hoteliers to be mindful of their tenants and guests respectively.
According to him, Kogi is the safest state in the entire North-Central, saying that the feat could only be achieved due to the support given by Governor Yahaya Bello and other security stakeholders.
“No doubt His Excellency has been very supportive to issues of security, We have reviewed our security architecture and it is yielding positive results,”
Earlier, the spokesman for the communities, Chief Samuel Omosayi, said the visit was to congratulate Commander Jerry Omodara on his reappointment.
“We are here to formally congratulate you on your well deserved reappointment as the State Security Adviser.
“We appreciate all the roles you played last year when we called on you that we could no longer sleep with our two eyes closed as a result of armed robbery and kidnapping.
“You quickly responded by sending to us security men to quench the mayhem situation for us,” Omosayi said.
He praised Governor Bello for his effort toward the establishment of Mobile Police Squadron along Kabba-Obajana road and assured of their unalloyed support and loyalty.
“Want to commended the State Government for the proactive step taken by establishing Mobile Police Squadron base on Obajana-Kabba road, we are very grateful,”the spokesman added.