Kogi Joint Task Cluster Nabs 26 Alleged Knapper

In a security operation aimed at watering criminals from the Kogi state, a Civil Assistance Task Force (CJTF), in collaboration with security agents, has arrested 26 kidnappers in West Kogi.

The arrest, which was announced on Tuesday by the State Security Advisor, Commander Jerry Omodara (Retd.), Took place in Odo -E, the Kabba -Bunu Regional Government area, where the suspects were paraded before journalists.

This hard action follows a series of high profile incidents recently, including the abduction of a local farmer, Head of Samuel Bello, in Poyan, Yagba West, and the murder of a retired military officer, Major Joe Ajayi, who was kidnapped from his Odo-Up house despite payment of 10 million ransoms.

According to Omodara, the operation, which lasted two weeks, was part of a broader effort by the Kogi state government to restore peace and combat the greater bandit threat and abduction in the region.

“It’s not only the kidnapper group in the forest that has been captured, but also the indigenous people who collaborate with them,” Omodara said.

“They function as logistics suppliers for bandits and kidnappers in the bush.”

He explained that the breakthrough followed a deeper investigation of Major Ajayi’s murder.

“In the in -depth investigation after the death of a kidnapped major major Joe Ajayi, we found that some indigenous people were involved. The suspects arrested helped the security agency to achieve the root of the abduction increase in the area.”

Also read: Naira Sheds N0.64 Against Dollars in Official Windows

Omodara noted that women in the local community were used to secretly supply food and drinks to bandits through youth collaborators.
“You can see the harvest of arrests through what the state government is doing. These are the people who cause chaos in our forests,” he said.

He warned that Kogi would not be a safe place for criminals:
“We will not allow it. We will pursue them because Kogi is not another country that criminals, bandits and kidnappers want to be driven.”

Security advisors urge the community to adopt the first defense line by supporting local residents and networks.

“The Kogi state government is very serious about it, and that is why we call on the community to absorb the level of first defense, because citizens are allowed to bring a certain level of weapons,” he said.

Responding to the new protest that was allegedly sponsored by external interests, Omodara stated: “Because we dig a far to get some of these criminals, which is why some elements that are dissatisfied outside the state regulate the new recognized protests.

He added that Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo remained committed to peace and had begun a proactive strategy to prevent criminal abundance from neighboring countries.

“When it was hot in the state of the benue, we took proactive steps on our border line in Olamaboro and Omala Lga to block the entry of crimes,” he said.

Deputy Commander of Civil JTF at Kogi West, Mr. Jeremiah Danjuma, also spoke to the press, connecting their success with teamwork and state support.

“Through joint efforts, we formed a Civil JTF, which has recorded significant achievements.
“In our cleaning operation last night at Bunu Forests, we arrested 16 bandits and kidnappers, including some from Zamfara.

“Some of the defenders who were feared were immediately handed over to DSS for further investigation,” Danjuma said.

The traditional ruler of Aieyegunle-Igun Bunu, Oba Sunday Omodamori, condemned protests that were performed by several members of the community and praised the government’s rapid response.

“We must know that these bandits come from far kebbi, Zamfara through the state of Niger, and come to our backyard and start kidnapping people.

“But the Kogi state government responded right to overcome this problem.

“In fact, local residents and hunters are always there and get full support from the state government,” said the king.

He questioned the motive behind the protest: “The protest even appeared behind the schedule when all the problems were unsafered. So, why is the protest now?

“I am very disappointed and disappointing that some young people who are dissatisfied in collaboration with bandits, and that is why we need to look at people in our community rather than crying because they do not do anything,” he said.

Commander Omodara concluded by reaffirizing that the state would not hesitate to deal with firmly with politicians, traditional rulers, or young men who were found to help criminals.

“The Kogi government has vowed to continue working with security agents to clean bandits and kidnappers from state forests and bring perpetrators to order,” he said.