Gov. Ododo’s giant strides in security as boost for state police  

By Mohammed Bashir Abdulsalam 

How Ododo’s investment in providing security has not only shaped the multifaceted mechanism at fighting against crimes in Kogi State, it is no doubt evidential in the successes recorded on battling insecurity in the state, it is also a pointer to the potential effectiveness of State Police when it is created in the state.

Current efficiency in tackling insecurity in the state is the result of huge investments by the administration of His Excellency, Governor Usman Ahmed Ododo. 

The Governor, from inception of his administration, declared zero tolerance for insecurity. Its account, for the reason he reappointed a retired military officer, who had served in the administration of his predecessor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, Commodore Jerry Omodara (Rtd), as his Security Adviser.

When he assumed office, after being briefed by security agencies in the state about the efforts of local hunters and vigilante groups in fighting crimes, he saw the need to enlist them into the state payroll with the benefit of state minimum wage. That decision hugely improved the morale of the group.

This shows that with emergence of state Police in Nigeria, all concerns and fears raised by the Nigerians on how state governors are going to abuse the structure have already been taken care of by Ododo’s government using the operations of local hunters and vigilante groups.

The prompt payment of their salaries and the fear that they could be used to haunt the opposition hasn’t been there, as no opposition leader opposed their operation. Rather, it has been commendations by all in Kogi who say the Governor is already ahead and fully prepared for state police.

Through the coordination of the office of the State Security Adviser, security agencies in the state are collaborating effectively in the areas of intelligence sharing and joint operation which have significantly helped in the arrest and neutralising of kidnappers and their kingpins in the state.

Recently, the Kogi State Government held a Security Summit and Strategic Fundraising event in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, gathering government officials, security agencies, and traditional leaders to address rising security challenges. Hosted by the State Governor, the summit proposed a ₦500 billion initiative to enhance and modify operations and security infrastructure to be able to tackle all forms of threats to security in the state.

The summit brought together stakeholders who focused on establishing well-equipped logistic bases across the three senatorial districts to improve intelligence gathering and shorten response time to security threats.

The high point of the event was the strategic fundraising in support of the Kogi State Security Trust Fund, aimed at enhancing the security operations.

With the matching order to monarchs and community leaders in the state, they resolved to treat individuals—whether natives or migrants—acting as informants or aiding and abating bandits as accomplices.

The Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, who was in attendance, lent his voice by advocating for shifting the security architecture to include Artificial Intelligence (AI), surveillance drones, and biometric tracking.

Kogi State security forces and the Nigerian military have intensified intelligence-led operations to neutralise notorious kidnap kingpins and dismantle bandit hideouts across the state’s forest corridors. These coordinated efforts have successfully degraded several high-profile criminal networks in the state. 

The administration is also actively combating insecurity through proactive, intelligence-led operations and massive investments to deal with the menace, by introducing security protocols in some parts of the state, which includes the total clampdown on all unregistered vehicles and motorcycles, demolition of building used to harbour criminal activities and prosecution of their owner.

Others are: Churches and mosques should strengthen security at worship centres, and ban religious gatherings in vulnerable locations.

The protocol stopped the use of commercial motorcycles (Okada) and markets operation in Bunu hinterland temporarily, while landlords who harbour criminals would be treated as accomplices and would be prosecuted according to law.

The guideline didn’t spare hotels as they are required to keep verifiable records of their guests, with functional CCTV installation in and outside the building.

Key efforts

Procurement of operational assets: The administration has acquired advanced security hardware, including specialized vehicles and fleets of Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), to boost and enhance the response capacity of law enforcement agencies.

The government saw the needs to work closely with the Federal Government and the Office of the National Security Adviser, deploying air surveillance assets like helicopters for clearance operations against bandits. 

Recent Successes 

Key successes in the fight against crime in Kogi state center on large-scale dismantling of bandit camps, a sharp reduction in kidnapping rates, and major infrastructure investments to support intelligence-led security operations.

Massive recovery of arms: Security forces in a coordinated overnight offensive recovered a large cache of weapons, including 24 AK-47 rifles, 23 pump-action rifles, 42 magazines, and over 500 rounds of ammunition, effectively crippling major criminal enclaves.

Dismantling of bandit camps in joint military, police, and local vigilante operations successfully dislodged and destroyed numerous major bandit camps, neutralising several notorious gang leaders.

Establishment of the violent crime response unit (VCRU): The State Government commissioned a modern, well-equipped base for the unit in Lokoja. The unit is dedicated to rapid, intelligence-driven responses to violent crimes, utilising armored personnel carriers and specialized tactical vehicles.

Security strategic moves

Earlier this year, the State Government, in collaboration with federal troops and local vigilante groups, aggressively pushed to dislodge criminal camps in the state forests.

Officials indicate that security crackdowns in neighboring Niger and Kwara states have previously pushed bandits and kidnappers towards Kogi’s borders, prompting the state to deploy high-tech intelligence equipment to track and neutralise these threats.

In June 2026 in a judicial landmark victory, a Kogi State High Court sentenced notorious kidnapper Jibrin Halilu to death by hanging. Prosecuted by the Department of State Services (DSS), Halilu was found guilty of conspiracy and the kidnapping/murder of his neighbor, Uche Andrew Offo, from whom he collected a N2.5 million ransom.

Kachalla Ibrahim Battijo was exterminated in June 2026 in a joint operation led by the troops of the 12 Brigade and local hunters and vigilantes’ group. 

The kingpin Kachalla Ibrahim Battijo and his gangs had stormed Iluke, Bunu community in Kaba/Bunu LGA, attempted to abduct students writing their WAEC examinations from school and hold resident’s hostage. Battijo and over 15 of his fighters met their waterloo during the operation. 

Several of such operations have been carried out successfully where scores of bandits were neutralised and arrests were made.

The most troubling parts of the state in Kogi West areas are Oshokoshoko, Appa/Agbede up to the old Agbadu to Aduapa. The major highways of Obajana to Kabba road has a long stretch, but with adequate logistics provision made by the state government, the security agencies in collaboration with the local vigilante group sanity will be restored to the area.

These, among many others were the measures put in place by the Ododo administration to safeguard lives and livelihoods in the state.