No part of Kogi State will be left unprotected at the mercy of criminals. Deputy Inspector General of Police, DIG Isyaku Mohammed gave the assurance on Monday in Lokoja during a working visit to the state.
Isyaku, who represented the IGP, Tunji Disu, at a stakeholders’ engagement organized by the Kogi State Police Command, called for citizens support in the war against insecurity emphasizing that the state security agencies cannot do it alone.
“Security is everybody’s business. The Police alone can not secure our communities without the active support and participation of the people..
“This state belongs to all of us. We can not and will not surrender it to criminals, kidnappers, armed robbers, cultists, drug traffickers, terrorists or any other elements that threaten our peace and security. But we can not achieve this objective alone. We need your support,” he said.
The DIG urged traditional rulers, religious leaders, parents, youth groups and community leaders to take ownership of peacebuilding and crime prevention efforts by remaining vigilant and providing timely intelligence to security agencies.
According to him, information remains one of the most potent weapons against crime, and citizens must make effective use of police emergency lines and communication channels to report suspicious activities, strange movements, criminal hideouts, illegal firearms, drug trafficking, kidnapping threats and other security concerns.
“There is no useless information. A seemingly insignificant piece of information can prevent a kidnapping, stop an armed robbery, disrupt a terrorist attack or save lives..
“Do not provide sanctuary to criminals. Do not shield them because they are your relatives, your friends or your neighbours. Crime eventually destroys the very communities that harbour it..
“The challenges before us are significant, but they are not insurmountable. Together, we can defeat criminality. Together, we can secure our communities. Together, we can build a safer and more prosperous state,” he said.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Kogi State Commissioner of Police, CP Naziru Bello Kankarofi, said the visit by the DIG underscored the commitment of the force leadership to effective supervision, operational efficiency, accountability and improved service delivery across commands under the North-Central zone.
Kankarofi described the visit as timely, noting that it offered an opportunity to assess the state’s security architecture, strengthen operational strategies and deepen collaboration with critical stakeholders.
“We particularly look forward to hearing the perspectives, observations, and recommendations of our esteemed stakeholders, whose contributions remain invaluable to the success of community-oriented policing and sustainable peace in Kogi State,” the commissioner said.
He reiterated that security remained a shared responsibility and could only be effectively addressed through collective commitment and cooperation among all segments of society.
The meeting was attended by the State Security Adviser, Commodore Jerry Omodara (Rtd), traditional rulers, members of the Police Community Relations Committee, representatives of the National Association of Nigerian Students, the Nigerian Bar Association, youth groups, civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations, senior police officers and members of the media.
