Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has directed traditional rulers in three various local governments to immediately identify and hand over those perpetrating crimes in their domains to government for prosecution.
Governor Bello gave the directives through his Special Adviser on Security, Commander Jerry Omodara (Rtd) while unveiling government’s new initiative on community policing in response to the rising wave of kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism and other violent crimes in many parts of the state.
He said traditional rulers would henceforth be required to provide information on the people in their domain and their movement, assuring them of the the government’s financial support to enable them carry out the new assignment.
Commander Omodara, however, warned the youths to stop indulging in crimes saying anyone caught in the act will be made to face the law.
The State Commissioner of Police, Mr Abdullahi Chaffe, and the Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Mr Evaristus Obialu, who spoke at the event, solicited the cooperation and understanding of the traditional rulers, religious leaders and the youths in the area for intelligent information.
Done with Kabba-Bunu, the team then carried the campaign of the community policing to Ebira land.
It is no longer news that kidnapping and other vices of crime are on the rise in Kogi State.
The Lokoja-Okene highway is now a dangerous route for travelers, as a result of the fear of being kidnapped which is now a daily event.