From Emmanuel Adeyemi, Lokoja
Operatives of Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) in Kogi State have arrested 26 kidnappers in collaboration with the security agencies in a clean-up operations in parts of Okun Yoruba speaking area of the state
The state Security Adviser, Commander Jerry Omodara (rtd), disclosed this while parading the suspects to newsmen yesterday in Odo-Ape, Kabba-Bunu LGA.
Omodara noted that the operation, which was carried out in the last two weeks, was part of the government’s efforts to tackle insecurity in the state.
According to Omodara, the arrested suspects include :natives who have been aiding the activities of bandits by supplying them with logistics such as food, drinks, water, and others.
“It is not only the kidnappers group in the forest that have been arrested, but also the natives that are collaborating with them.
“They serve as logistics suppliers to the bandits and kidnappers in the bush.
“Our deep investigation after the death of the kidnapped retired Major Joe Ajayi, we discovered that some natives were involved.
“The suspects are helping the security agencies to get to the root causes of the rising kidnapping in the area.
“The Kogi Government is very serious about it, and that is why we are calling on Communities to imbibe first line of defense level, as vigilantes are allowed to carry certain levels of arms.
“We urge communities to develop some level of intelligence. Our women are currently being used to buy food and drinks and others, and sending it through some of the youths in the communities who are bandits collaborators.
“Governor Ahmed Ododo is committed to ensuring that peace returns to every community not only in Bunu land, but to all communities across Kogi state.
“We are taking some proactive measures; when the heat is on in Benue State, we took proactive measures in which the border lines such as Olamaboro and Omala Local Government Areas, we formed a defense to ensure that we don’t have influx of some criminals into the state,”’Omodara said.
The Security Adviser assured that the government would not take the issue of security lightly and would continue to work with security agencies to bring perpetrators to book.
Omodara noted that the government had also formed a defense system to prevent the influx of criminals from neighboring states.
Also speaking, Jeremiah Danjuma, Deputy Commandant of the Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) in Kogi West, attributed the success in combating kidnapping and banditry to the collaborative efforts of the state and Federal Government.
“Through the joint efforts, we formed the Civilian JTF, which has recorded significant achievements.
“In our cleanup operation last night at Bunu forests, we apprehended 16 bandits and kidnappers, including some from Zamfara.
“Some of the dreaded arrested kidnappers were immediately handed over to the DSS for further investigation,” Danjuma said.