Lokoja:The Kogi State Government has acknowledged President Bola Tinubu’s administration for significantly enhancing security coordination between the Federal Government and states over the past three years.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the State Security Adviser, retired Commander Jerry Omodara, highlighted in an interview that Tinubu inherited an existing federal security system but took steps to improve it by bringing in experts and initiating a comprehensive review of emerging security challenges in the country. This review resulted in a defined national security framework allowing federal and sub-national security agencies to collaborate effectively.
Omodara explained that Governor Ahmed Ododo’s administration in Kogi has aligned with the federal security arrangement, thereby boosting local security operations. He stressed that each state has unique security dynamics, leading Kogi to develop its own local security architecture tailored to its geographical and topographical conditions while cooperating with federal agencies.
Kogi State has established intelligence bases in its 239 wards and employs a mix of hunters, vigilantes, professional hunters, and newly recruited forest guards to secure forest corridors and communities. The state’s security strategy under Tinubu’s policies includes collaborative joint clearance operations, embedding local security operatives with the Army, Navy, Police, and Department of State Services (DSS).
The state employs both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches to combat insecurity. Kinetic methods involve operations like forest patrols and raids, while non-kinetic strategies focus on offering criminals from other states a chance to surrender. Omodara emphasized the state’s stance of not negotiating with bandits but providing opportunities for surrender to ensure safety and food security.
In some instances, the Kogi government has blocked roads, markets, and motor parks in areas where bandits have strongholds, particularly in the Kogi West Senatorial District, to cut off their access to resources. Omodara noted that the state continues to combat kidnapping threats and is committed to pursuing those who resist disarming.
On manpower, Tinubu’s administration has bolstered the personnel of security agencies, allowing Kogi to reopen police stations closed for over a decade due to a shortage of staff and resources. A major milestone is the establishment of a platform where all 36 State Security Advisers meet regularly with the National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, to share intelligence, achievements, and challenges.
Omodara, who previously served under former governor Yahaya Bello, mentioned that the current administration provides direct access to the National Security Adviser, facilitating better coordination. He noted the evolution of security threats from armed robbery to highway kidnapping and cybercrime over the past decade. The state intends to continue addressing security gaps through technology, synergy, and intelligence gathering, aided by legislation like the National Assembly’s Cybercrime Law and state initiatives like the State Police bill.