Police in Kogi, Edo strengthen border security over Kidnapping, banditry

The Police Command in Kogi and Edo states have intensified security collaboration along the Kogi-Edo boundary following concerns over kidnapping and banditry attacks in communities around the border.

The Kogi State Commissioner of Police, CP Naziru Bello Kankarofi, and his Edo counterpart, CP Patrick Daaor, on Thursday conducted a joint command patrol at Aguda Village, along the Okene-Auchi Expressway, at the Kogi-Edo boundary.

The exercise focused on the inspection of ongoing joint clearance operations along the corridor, which had entered their seventh day.

The commissioners assessed operational deployments, vulnerable routes and the readiness of personnel from both commands and other security agencies.

A statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, Kogi State Command, ASP Saliu Oyiza Afusat, confirmed the development.

She said the commissioners also inspected identified black spots and hideouts within the border forest to assess security deployments.

According to her, the exercise was aimed at strengthening operational planning, intelligence sharing and coordinated responses to security threats along the corridor.

She disclosed that the joint operation had already recorded a major breakthrough with the rescue of nine kidnapped victims abducted along the Mameramo-Adomu Road on August 11.

The victims were rescued through an intelligence-led operation involving the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy Ship Lugard, Department of State Services, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, local vigilantes and other auxiliary security personnel from Kogi and Edo states.

The victims were subsequently evacuated, debriefed and reunited with their families.

The two commissioners also engaged residents of the border community, who raised security concerns affecting the area.

Afusat said the concerns were noted and that, in line with the community policing initiative of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, appropriate measures would continue to be implemented to address identified threats.

The joint patrol reaffirmed the commitment of the two police commands to sustained collaboration, timely intelligence sharing and coordinated operations to prevent criminals from establishing safe havens along the border.

The commands also pledged to prevent criminal elements from exploiting the boundary between the two states and ensure the safety of residents, travellers and other road users along the Okene-Auchi corridor.