The Nigeria Police Force, Kogi State Command, has pledged stronger collaboration with stakeholders to tackle insecurity, as the Coordinating Deputy Inspector General of Police, North Central, DIG Isyaku Mohammed, paid a working visit to the state.
The visit was the highlight of a stakeholders’ consultative meeting on Monday at kogi state police command held in Lokoja, attended by traditional rulers, government officials, and security agencies.
Welcoming the DIG, the Commissioner of Police, Kogi State Command, said the meeting was convened to strengthen relations between the police and stakeholders, share perspectives, and gather observations on the security situation in the state.
He described Kogi as a strategically located state that faces security threats, and applauded the Inspector General of Police, IGP Olatunde Disu, for his leadership in repositioning the Force.
In his remarks, the Security Adviser to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, Navy Commodore Jerry Omodara, rtd, described the DIG’s visit as a welcome development. He expressed confidence in the present Commissioner of Police and commended traditional rulers including the Agankyu of Kakanda, Engr. Mohammed Faruk, and rulers from Obajana, Oshokosoko, and Felele for their support.
Omodara said the state government was pleased with the performance of security agencies in Kogi, noting that a notorious bandit leader, Bhatijjo, had been neutralized. He added that bandits were now fleeing the state due to sustained operations against kidnappers and criminals.
He requested additional air support, specifically three helicopters, to boost the fight against banditry and assured the DIG that the war against criminal elements would be won with continued support.
Speaking at the meeting, DIG Isyaku Mohammed said he was sent by the Inspector General to assess the security situation in Kogi. After receiving a briefing from the Commissioner of Police, he expressed satisfaction with the state’s security architecture but said he would report his findings to the IGP.
The DIG urged communities to reject criminals and bandits in their villages and called for greater engagement of youths to steer them away from drugs and crime. He appealed to traditional rulers and stakeholders to continue supporting the police, stressing that victory against insecurity requires collective effort.
Also speaking, the Agankyu of Kakanda, Engr. Mohammed Faruk, appealed for closer police presence in rural communities. He said traditional institutions cannot fight banditry alone and commended Governor Ododo for providing maximum support to security
agencies.
