Bombardment: Bandits seek Peace, reach out to lay down arms – Kogi govt
The Kogi State government says several bandits have started reaching out for negotiation in their bid to lay down their arms, and turn a new leaf.
The Security Adviser to the state government, Commander Jerry Omodara (rtd) disclosed this in Lokoja to newsmen on Friday.
He said the move followed sustained operations against the bandits , including the recent bombardment on their hideouts and demolition of Houses used for criminal activities in some parts of the State.
He stated that the State has deployed technology in the fight against insecurity in the last two years of the present administration of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo.
Commander Omodara noted further that deployment of technology has enabled the State to outsmart the Criminals terrorising the state.
He said, “Recall that during his inaugural address as the fifth Executive Governor of Kogi the Confluence State on January 27th 2024, Alhaji Ahmed Ododo vowed to do everything humanly possible to ensure safety of lives and property.
“One of the Strengths of the State Government is the use of Technology as plans are already in top gear to get more to take the fight to Criminals in the bush.”
The Security Adviser stressed further that several Hilux, Siena Vehicles and Motorcycles have been provided to Army, Police, Vigilante and other security outfits to enhance their efficiency in the battle against these hoodlums operating in the state.
According to him, one of the key policies of the Governor remains its stand not to negotiate with Criminals , but will continue to sustain the current onslaught by taking the fight to them in their hideout forest.
The Security Adviser pointed out that government is working on a legislation to ban living in the bush, saying anyone that wants to stay in Kogi must live in the Town or known settlement.
Commander Omodara noted that a apart from the bombardment in the North that is making bandits to relocate to the State, Local collaborators have been established to be collaborating with some of them in their nefarious activities.
“Both the bandits and their local collaborators are currently feeling the full wrath of the law as the government and security operatives sustained an onslaught on them with no hold bar”, he said.
He maintained that despite the upsurge in banditry and insurgency, Kogi remains the safest State in the North Central, attributing the success to intelligence gathering and political will demonstrated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Ododo.
Meanwhile, Commander Omodara added that over three thousand vigilante officers have been employed into the State Workforce for adequate support in ongoing onslaught against criminals in the state .
The men of Joint Task Force ( JTF) had carried out series of attack on the bandits’ hideouts recently ,with several of them neutralised in the process.
