Ododo rules out talks with bandits, vows tough action
Governor of Kogi State, Usman Ododo, on Tuesday declared that his administration would not negotiate with criminals, vowing to crush and defeat them.
Speaking at the Kogi State Security Summit and Fundraising held in Abuja, he stressed that anyone who disturbed the peace of the state would not enjoy peace.
He added that protecting lives and property remained the foremost responsibility of his government.
“Let me be clear, this administration will not negotiate with criminals. I was not elected to pamper the enemies of our peace.
“Those who disturb our peace will not enjoy peace. We will confront them, we will crush them, and we will defeat them,” Ododo said.
The governor noted that security remained the foundation for development, warning that without peace, economic growth and investment could not thrive.
According to him, Kogi State’s strategic position as a gateway between northern and southern Nigeria presented both opportunities and security risks.
“Kogi occupies a unique central position, which is beneficial for commerce but also exposes us to infiltration by criminal elements due to the constant movement of people and goods,” he said.
Ododo disclosed that his administration had strengthened the state’s security architecture through the provision of operational vehicles, deployment of advanced communication and surveillance systems, and acquisition of drones to enhance intelligence gathering.
He said the measures were already yielding results, with improved calm in several areas and disruption of criminal networks.
Ododo explained that the restructuring of the Kogi State Security Trust Fund was aimed at creating a transparent platform for individuals, corporate organisations, and institutions to contribute to security initiatives, appealing to investors and the business community to support the state’s security drive.
“Security is the backbone of economic success. By supporting our initiatives, you are not only protecting your investments but also securing the future of our state and country,” he said.
Highlighting Kogi’s importance to national stability, the governor warned that insecurity in the state could have spillover effects on the Federal Capital Territory.
“If there is no peace in Kogi, it will affect Abuja. We must not allow that to happen,” he said.
His comments come amid criticism of some governors entering peace deals with terrorists in their states.
At the summit, Vice President Kashim Shettima said President Bola Tinubu prioritised security reforms as a central pillar of his administration, stressing that no meaningful development could take place without peace and stability.
Shettima, represented by Minister of State for Regional Development, Uba Ahmadu, said the President had made confronting security lapses a top priority, noting that he understood with unmistakable clarity that without security there could be no durable development, no meaningful investment, no stable communities, and no credible future.
He added that the Federal Government was deploying both kinetic and non-kinetic strategies to address the country’s security challenges.
“We are strengthening operational capacity, supporting interagency coordination, improving intelligence, and investing in the conditions that make peace sustainable,” he said.
The Vice President also emphasised the need for proactive measures, warning that Nigeria could not afford to wait for threats to escalate.
“A serious nation does not wait for danger to mature before it begins to think. It reads the weather before the storm and studies the fault lines before they crack,” he stated.
According to him, security efforts must be collective and adaptive to effectively counter evolving threats.
“The enemies of peace are organised, they are deliberate, they adapt. So our response must be organised, deliberate, and adaptive,” Shettima said.
He further explained that the Federal Government was deploying both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches to address insecurity.
Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State emphasised that tackling insecurity required sustained funding, modern technology, and attention to underlying socio-economic factors.
Zulum described security as a cardinal objective of any administration, stressing that “the nexus between peace, security and development need not be over-emphasised.”
Drawing from Borno State’s experience, he said, “We have been facing security challenges for over a decade, but with commitment, we have reduced them by over 90 per cent,” while noting that the progress came at high cost.
According to him, reliance on force alone was insufficient.
“The kinetic measures alone will not end the insurgency. We need modern equipment—artificial intelligence, robotics, drones—because it is difficult to fight an enemy you cannot see,” he said.
Zulum also pointed to structural drivers of insecurity, warning that without addressing poverty, infrastructure deficits, illiteracy and other socio-economic challenges, insecurity will never end.
