Spread the love
On assumption of office as Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, made it emphatically and abundantly clear, that the State was no longer going to be a safe haven for those engaged in crime and criminality.
Until the coming of Gov. Yahaya Bello, the name Kogi State was synonymous with kidnapping, Armed Robbery and other anti social vices inimical to growth and development of any society.
In recent times, effective crime fighting and prevention methods was initiated by the pro active governor which to a large extent has however drastically reduced the spate of armed robberies and high profile kidnappings in Kogi, new found activities which serves as a source of funding for terrorists after their decimation in the North Eastern part of Nigeria.
Consequently, they now resorted to random kidnappings, relying on small ransoms they demand from their unfortunate victims. Residents and travellers were not spared in the onslaught of the activities of these evil men.
But because the lives of all residents and those who transit the State by reason of its gateway status is sacred under Gov. Bello’s watch, he did not rest on his laurels. He and his team in consonance with the security agencies in the state have stopped at nothing to make Kogi crime free, irrespective of who is directly affected.
Little wonder, Governor Yahaya Bello penultimate Wednesday, led an enforcement team to Okene in the Central Senatorial District of the state to demolish buildings used by suspected kidnappers and armed robbers in perpetrating crimes.
According to Gov. Bello, at the commencement of the demolition exercise, pointed out that the strategic position of Kogi State as a major transit route in the country, and as the most interconnected of all the 36 states, calls for effective policing, said crime control measures in the state will have a positive ripple effect in neighbouring states and the country at large. He noted that it will help prevent the spread of Boko Haram as their fighters flee from the northeast where they have suffered crushing defeat at the hands of federal forces.”
Reports shows that the on going demolition exercise was sequel to the recent arrests of 17 suspected kidnappers and armed robbers by the Army, during which their houses were identified to be harbouring criminals and incriminating materials.
The law to demolish houses, confiscate properties owned by Kidnappers and landlords, Armed Robbers and others engaged in stockpiling Arms and Improvise Explosive Devices, it would be recalled was since passed into law by the immediate past administration of Capt Idris Wada. Gov Bello, is however discovered and should be commended to have mustered the political Will in ensuring that the law takes effect, with the people of the central senatorial districts coming out in their numbers, to jubilate and to heave a sigh of relief, that for once they can now sleep with their two eyes closed as they have always lived in fears.
The governor who was accompanied on the exercise by the state commissioner of police, Mr Wilson Inalegwu and heads of other security agencies in the state, have so far pulled down twelve structures as at the time of filing this report while more are still expected to go.
The building of a suspected kidnap kingpin, Alhaji Tijanni Bakare was the first to be pulled down at Oyunkoko Ward in Okene LGA of the state.
Also pulled down was the notorious Ahlul-Sunnah Mosque in Inike, Okene LGA which was reportedly taken over in 2015 by members of the Boko Haram terrorist group and has been serving as an operational base for their activities.
The Operation Team also at Iruvochinomi, Ege pulled down a mud house where cache of sophisticated arms and ammunition were recovered recently.
Also pulled down was where the arms of one arrested criminal, “Dollar Mopol”, was recovered from. His own mother’s house where he was nabbed was also demolished. Ozuja in Okengwe community of OKENE LGA also was an Operation field, as the team did justice in pulling down buildings owned or occupied by criminals.
Similarly, in Ebaako-Obeiba, Ihima Community of Okehi LGA. The Den of a high profile Armed Robber popularly known as SANDA gave way to the bulldozers of the State Government.
Also, in Okahanchi – Oboroke, Ihima Community, Okehi LGA. The house belonging to a reknown notorious kidnapper known as Lamidi Onyekehi Opozueyi (Lamidi Young Millionaire), gave way as the law became no respecter of persons, once evidence abound that you’re engaged in nefarious activities.
The Den of another Leader of a Kidnap Ring popularly known as CAT, was pulled down at Ege Road, Ebaako in Ihima Community of Okehi LGA.
That Governor Bello has shown commitment to eradicate all forms of crime and criminality in the the State with the demolition exercise and also vow to implement the Anti-kidnapping, Robbery and Terrorism Law in the state to the letter is a justification that his purchase of Security Equipment, Vehicles and other gadgets for the improvement of crime prevention in the state in the early part of his assumption as governor was a well articulated policy, calls for support from all and sundry. This is because security is every body’s business.
The warning now is for people of the state to stop harbouring criminals, as government has said that it will continue to pull down such houses if and when discovered to be a den of criminals.
More importantly, the expected role of the citizens in reporting activities of criminals has been made easier by the state government whistle blowing policy which offers a money reward and still protects the confidentiality of the informant.
On his part, the Kogi State Police Commissioner, Mr Wilson Inalegwu, said it would no longer be business as usual for criminals. That this is coming from a man who has just barely resumed in the State as Commissioner and seeing the motivation his men and other security agencies are getting is no mean assurance.
The strong conviction of Gov. Bello’s administration about the importance of combating crime at community level also explains the ongoing training and strengthening of local vigilante groups. Adequate vigilance in our immediate neighbourhoods and communities, to complement the efforts of conventional security agencies, will make it that much tougher for terrorist cells and any other form of criminal enterprise to take root.
For now, without mincing words, what has began in the Central Senatorial District is desirable in the other parts of the state as no area should be spared in the onslaught to rid the State of men of the underworld.
Just as Governor Bello and others who mean well have always reechored about the nexus between security and economic development, the New Direction vision will be a lot easier to achieve if lives, property and investments in the state are safe and secure.
Government’s efforts to make the State an investment haven be ensuring that it is safe, secure and stable for investment at this point in time, with the political Will so far displayed by Governor Yahaya Bello, is therefore commendable and the steps in the right direction.
For the criminals who are still recalcitrant on having a change of mind. I dear say, those who have had encounter with the security network put in place and are alive to tell their stories, according to the governor, would have preferred to have died in the encounter. The message mostly to youths of the state is. No matter how slow it takes to make it in life legitimately. It is still honourable as certainly, their is no longer a hiding place for get rich quick syndrome through dubious and illegitimate means under bello’s watch as they would want to believe. It is therefore quick to say in today’s Kogi under Bello, it is no longer business as usual in doing the illegitimate unusual nefarious business to attain the get rich status.
– Abu Micheal
Spread the love
