Crime
Kogi Govt Reassures Citizens, Warns Against Politicising Insecurity
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.
- • 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.”
Crime
Police Arrest 32 Suspected Bandits in Kwara Forest Crackdowns
the operation targeted criminal hideouts in forest areas around Awi, Kaiama, Patigi, and Babanla, where the suspects were allegedly involved in kidnapping, cattle rustling, and other violent crimes
Photo: IGP Tunji Disu
The Kwara State Police Command has arrested thirty two suspected bandits during intelligence-led operations targeting criminal networks operating in forest corridors across the state.
The police said that two of those arrested are foreign nationals from Niger Republic who are suspected to have collaborated with local bandits in cross-border criminal activities.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, disclosed that the suspects were apprehended during coordinated raids carried out by operatives of the Kwara State Police Command and detectives of the Intelligence Response Team.
The police assures that the suspects will be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted.
She explained that the operation targeted criminal hideouts in forest areas around Awi, Kaiama, Patigi, and Babanla, where the suspects were allegedly involved in kidnapping, cattle rustling, and other violent crimes.
Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, during an operational visit to Kaiama, commended officers of the command and the Intelligence Response Team for what he described as a successful operation against forest-based criminal gangs.
Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) on Friday 6, at Eha-Amufu and Umuhu in Isi-Uzo Local Government Area, Enugu State, arrested a suspected notorious Eastern Security Network (ESN) commander, Sabastine Odo Odam, and Ejike Daniel, a suspected member of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Security sources revealed that the arrest followed months of sustained intelligence gathering on activities of the suspects.
The arrests came on the heels of series of violent attacks on police stations and killings between 2024 and 2026, all in Isi-Uzo LGA.
“Both men have confessed to being masterminds of a chain of attacks on police stations and carting away of weapons. The attacks include the February 26 killing of 11 labourers, and that of five policeman between December 24, 2025 and January 26, 2026.
“The arrests represent a major success for the DSS in the fight against insecurity in the southeast and country at large,” remarked the source.
Residents of Isi-Uzo LGA expressed excitement as news of the arrests filtered in. Many noted that the arrests will restore some peace to the affected communities.
Both suspects are currently in the custody of the DSS and awaiting arraignment in court, the source added.
A Federal High Court in Abuja has discharged and acquitted suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Abba Kyari of a 23-count charge alleging non-declaration of assets, brought by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
In a judgment delivered on Thursday, March 5, 2026, Justice James Omotosho ruled that the prosecution failed to establish its case beyond reasonable doubt against Kyari and his co-defendants, including his two brothers.
The judge held that the NDLEA did not provide sufficient evidence to prove that the disputed properties allegedly linked to Kyari belonged to him or that he failed to declare them. He described aspects of the case as unsubstantiated and lacking credible proof.
This acquittal pertains specifically to the asset declaration and related allegations. Kyari continues to face separate ongoing charges, including those related to drug trafficking matters.
Kyari, once celebrated as a top police investigator, has been suspended amid multiple legal battles. The ruling marks a significant development in one of his high-profile cases.
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