The people of Okun land in Kogi state have been advised to desist from indiscriminate selling of lands to strangers.
Kogi State Security Adviser, Commander Jerry Omodara (rtd), gave the advise on Friday while delivering a keynote address at the security summit organised by Okun Development Association (ODA) at Kabba.
According to him, the rate of insecurity in Kogi West alone is high compared to other senatorial district owing to indiscriminate selling of lands to strangers.
He warned residents of the state against harbouring strangers in their houses and lands.
The Security Adviser, who attributed the increase in security challenges in the land to accepting unwanted strangers as well as the ongoing onslaught against criminals in the North East.
Commander Omodara tasked ODA and relevant stakeholders in Okun land to develop a template for tackling insecurity in their respective communities, as the present administration of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has tried its best in fighting crimes and criminality.
While restating the commitment of the state government to providing purposeful leadership aimed at nipping crimes and criminality in the bud in Okun land, Commander Omodara assured the gathering that government will not disappoint in its responsibility of safeguarding lives and property.
According to him, the present administration is making efforts to contain issues of insecurity in Okun land, hence the establishment of Kogi Vigilante Service as well as engagement of hunters across the twenty one local government areas.
He charged the people of Okun land to rise up and support the efforts of the Governor in providing safety for the citizens of the state.
A retired Assistant Director General of Department of State Service, Dr. Williams Toyin Akanle said insecurity threatens socioeconomic Growth of Okun land, as farmlands are being taken over by criminals and it poses food security threat to the people.
Dr. Akanle noted that though the security problems facing the State are complex, they are surmountable with unity of purpose and development of necessary template aimed at stemming them.
Earlier, the President General of ODA, Amb. Akenson Rotimi said the alarming attack on Okun communities, leading to killings as well kidnapping, are worrisome to the association, hence the summit.
