* NSCDC graduates 132 officers into the service.
* As Security trust fund set to empower Security Agencies.
ATABOR JULIUS LOKOJA
Against the backdrop of recent upsurge of insecurity in kogi state, the Governor , Ahmed Usman Ododo has reiterated his commitment to rejig security architecture that will respond effectively to all forms of security threats across the state.
The Governor admitted that the recent upsurge of kidnappings in some parts of the state , was an attempt by the criminal elements to fight back, but , with the deployment of latest arsenal, the criminals have been demobilised and degraded.
The Governor made the disclosure on Friday at the International Civil Defence Organisation day celebration and the passing out parade of 132! officers and men of the command recruited in 2022 into the service held in Lokoja, state capital.
The state Commandant, Paul Igwebuike admonished the latest grandaunts to imbibed the culture of integrity and hardwork that the corps was known for and urge them to be the purveyors of extant rules and order.
The commandant congratulated the participants for their immaculate and energetic display of the culture of the service and warned them to remain resolute in the service to the defence of their father land.
According to the commandant,” today is an extremely important day as they have formally and successful completed a demanding training curriculum, overcoming in the process of many mental.pbysical and social hardships. It is worth of note that without the support of our pragmatic and sagacious Commandant General Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi whose policies of revamping and Rejigging the Corps has yielded positive transformation in the corps today which in turn have birth to this auspicious ceremony today.
The Governor, who was represented by the State Security Adviser Commodore Jerry Omodara noted that since his administration came on board, there has been fight back by criminals.
He said “Security is a work in progress. Now that there is a new Government in Kogi State, we began to realize that there is a fight back by criminals. We have a solid foundation as far as security is concern in Kogi State.
“That is the reason we quickly reviewed again the security architecture of the State and every loopholes we needed to block. We are already sniffing them out. We have issues of almost three kidnapped cases simultaneously along Obajana Kabba road.
” That almost gave us another bad name. I can assure you today that the State have tackled them very well. The Governor is determined.
He called all the security agencies to work in synergy and ensure that Kogi State remains safe
” We are ensuring that, we don’t sleep. There is 24 hours patrol in Kogi. We are blocking every roads. We know the challenges before now. The current Governor Alhaji Usman Ahmed Ododo is determined and ever ready to sustain the foundation of security he inherited from the previous Government and also improve on it. And that is why we are investing heavily on technical and human intelligence.
“When we have the security working as one body, you will discover that we will achieve results. Insecurities is community based. We have also involve security at the grassroot. We are carrying the hunters along and reviewing the Kogi State Vigilantes activities. We are bringing them to be a serious fighting force to make sure Kogi is kept save.
” Kogi State is too critical to Nigeria and Federal Capital Territory. If Kogi State is not safe, the FCT is not safe. We are not going to allow what is happening in neighbouring State to happen in Kogi State. The Governor is determined and we are going to do it” he added.
He urged all criminal elements to take a bow and relocate from Kogi State.
Continuing, the Governor said “They should repent or leave Kogi State. We also want the people of Kogi State that has been doing it before to renew their strength. They know that when they give us information, the people that are involved in this criminal activities don’t get to know. Give us information and security agencies will get to the root of it and tackle insecurities. We are again very determined”.
He, however, commended the NSCDC in their role in protecting lives and properties in the Country, tasking them to do more for the unity of Nigeria as a nation.
According to him” Our security situation continues to be uncertain and fluid with persisting combination of conventional and unconstitutional challenges. You will therefore, see yourselves being involved in a variety of tasks. You must however, see your graduation today as not the end, but a new beginning of your training and education in the Corps.
“The present Government in Kogi State is poised to flush out criminalities. And we are all out for it. Security keeping is a serious business and all hands must be on deck. Criminal have started fleeing away. We will tackle them head on. In terms of protection of critical national assets which falls within our mandate, we are already to safe guarding that. Vandalization and all that is associated with it will come to an end in Kogi State”.
