Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo has vowed to flush out all criminal elements in the State.
Governor Ododo made the resolved on Friday during the passing out parade of 132 rank and files of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp (NSCDC), Kogi State Command.
The Governor, who was represented by the State Security Adviser, Navy Commander Jerry Omodara (rtd) noted that since his administration came on board, there has been fight back by criminals.
“Security is work in progress. Now that there is a new Government in Kogi State, we began to realize that there is a fight back by criminals. We have a solid foundation as far as security is concern in Kogi State.
“That is the reason we quickly review again the security architecture of the State and every loopholes we needed to block. We are already sniffing them out. We have issues of almost three kidnapped cases simultaneously along Obajana Kabba road.
“That almost gave us another bad name. I can assure you today that the State have tackled them very well. The Governor is determined,” he said.
He called all the security agencies to work in synergy and ensure that Kogi State remains safe.
“We are ensuring that, we don’t sleep. There is 24 hours patrol in Kogi. We are blocking every roads. We know the challenges before now. The current Governor Alhaji Usman Ahmed Ododo is determined and ever ready to sustain the foundation of security he inherited from the previous Government and also improve on it. And that is why we are investing heavily on technical and human intelligence.
“When we have the security working as one body, you will discover that we will achieve results. Insecurities is community based. We have also involve security at the grassroot. We are carrying the hunters along and reviewing the Kogi State Vigilantes activities. We are bringing them to be a serious fighting force to make sure Kogi is kept save.
“Kogi State is too critical to Nigeria and Federal Capital Territory. If Kogi State is not safe, the FCT is not safe. We are not going to allow what is happening in neighbouring State to happen in Kogi State. The Governor is determined and we are going to do it,” he added.
He urged all criminal elements to take a bow and relocate from Kogi State.
Continuing, the Governor said “They should repent or leave Kogi State. We also want the people of Kogi State that has been doing it before to renew their strength. They know that when they give us information, the people that are involved in this criminal activities don’t get to know. Give us information and security agencies will get to the root of it and tackle insecurities. We are again very determined”.
He, however, commended the NSCDC in their role in protecting lives and properties in the Country, tasking them to do more for the unity of Nigeria as a nation.
Earlier in his remarks, the Commandant of NSCDC in Kogi State, Paul Igwebuike commended the Commandant General of NSCDC, Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi, whose policies of revamping and rejigging NSCDC has yielded positive transformation in corps.
He charged the newly recruited officers to serve their father land with total sincerity to the nation.
According to him, “our security situation continues to be uncertain and fluid with persisting combination of conventional and unconstitutional challenges. You will therefore, see yourselves being involved in a variety of tasks. You must, however, see your graduation today as not the end, but a new beginning of your training and education in the Corps.
“The present Government in Kogi State is poised to flush out criminalities. And we are all out for it. Security keeping is a serious business and all hands must be on deck. Criminal have started fleeing away. We will tackle them head on. In terms of protection of critical national assets which falls within our mandate, we are already to safe guarding that. Vandalization and all that is associated with it will come to an end in Kogi State.”
