• • Governor Ododo address the people.

The government expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Security Adviser, service chiefs, and local security outfits such as the Vigilante Service and Hunters Group for their unwavering support.

The Kogi State Government has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to combating insecurity and called on citizens, media stakeholders, and political actors to avoid spreading fear or politicising the state’s security challenges.

In a statement made available to newsmen by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Hon. Kingsley Femi Fanwo in Lokoja , Tuesday, the government said it is quietly but effectively recording progress in its fight against criminal elements, particularly kidnappers, within the state.

“These gains are not coincidental,” the statement read.

“They result from well-planned strategies and deep institutional engagements aimed at ensuring the safety and well-being of every Kogite.”

While sympathising with families affected by recent attacks, the government stressed that such incidents should not be used to spread misinformation or panic.

“Misinformation and alarmist narratives only embolden criminals and demoralise communities. We call on opinion leaders and the media to work with us, not against us.

”The government also condemned what it described as “the politicization of insecurity by certain desperate politicians,” warning that such behavior undermines the collective fight against crime.

“Those who brought medicines whose side effects are worse than the ailments should not raise frivolous alarms when the right medicines are administered,” the statement noted.

According to credible intelligence, the rise in security threats in parts of Kogi is linked to regional shifts, especially as intensified security operations in the North East and North West have forced criminal elements to migrate toward the North Central, including Kogi.

Despite the challenges, the government emphasized its efforts in deploying advanced security infrastructure, strengthening intelligence gathering, and fostering community engagement.

“Our duty is not to spread fear but to inspire hope. And we are not just speaking hope, we are delivering it through action.”Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, the statement added, remains fully committed to prioritizing security without politicizing it.

“We are taking responsibility, not shifting blame,” the Commissioner said, urging politicians to focus on performance, not panic.

He urged politicians to focus on performance as a tool for reelection rather than raising panic, saying performers do not fear reelection.

The government expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Security Adviser, service chiefs, and local security outfits such as the Vigilante Service and Hunters Group for their unwavering support.

The statement ended with a call for unity: “Let us not propagate propaganda for criminals. Let us work together to defeat fear and inspire hope.”

Suspected herdsmen on Monday evening launched fresh assaults in Agatu and Apa Local Government areas of Benue State, leaving several people dead.

It was gathered that in Agatu LGA, one Sunday Dutse, a native of Odejo and younger brother to a former chairman of the local government, was killed along the Odugbeho-Ogbaulu road.

Dutse was reportedly displaced from his community in an earlier herdsmen attack and had been taking refuge in Ogwule-Kaduna, also in Agatu LGA.

Earlier in the day, a separate attack occurred in EdikwG’Icho, a community in Apa LGA, where three youths were ambushed and killed.

Two of the victims were reportedly from EdikwG’Icho, while the third hailed from Ugbokpo.

These attacks came despite the recent visit by top military authorities, including the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), who promised increased security measures in troubled parts of the state.

A United States federal high court has sentenced a 38-year-old Nigerian, Kingsley Utulu, to five years and three months in prison for orchestrating a major identity theft and wire fraud scheme that defrauded the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and private citizens of over $2.5 million.

According to reports, the conviction was announced by Jay Clayton, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Christopher Raia, FBI Assistant Director in New York. Utulu was charged with aggravated identity theft and conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

According to Clayton, Utulu and his co-conspirators hacked into U.S.-based tax preparation services, stole personal information, and used it to file fraudulent tax returns and extract funds.

The FBI stressed that geography offers no protection for cybercriminals, reaffirming its global reach in tackling fraud.

Utulu was arrested in the United Kingdom and later extradited to the United States.

Along with his sentence, he was ordered to pay $3.68 million in restitution and forfeit $290,250 in proceeds from the crime.

His sentencing follows the recent convictions of two other Nigerians—Abel Daramola and Olutayo Ogunlaja—linked to an international romance scam that stole over $560,000. Both face up to 20 years in federal prison.

This wave of convictions highlights growing scrutiny and action against transnational cybercrime rings involving Nigerian nationals and other foreign actors targeting U.S. citizens and institutions.