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Taming kidnappers in Kogi

By John Akubo
12 July 2016   |   2:19 am
Forceful relocation of a family of five from their native home in Idah, Kogi State after receiving threats from kidnappers has underscored the level of insecurity in the area.
Battle-ready Nigeria police. PHOTO: GOOGLE

Battle-ready Nigeria police. PHOTO: GOOGLE

Kogi State has become a refuge for criminals, but the government appears determined to flush out the undesirable elements. Can the government win this battle?  John Akubo (Lokoja) reports.

Forceful relocation of a family of five from their native home in Idah, Kogi State after receiving threats from kidnappers has underscored the level of insecurity in the area.

A few weeks before then, 13 persons were killed in the same town during clashes by rival cult groups. Many residents of Idah and other major towns now retire indoors as early as 8.00pm. The situation is not different in Kogi West and Central. Kidnapping has become so rampant that residents hardly travel in their private cars.

Although Kogi State Government has responded by deploying Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squads who specialize in aerial surveillance, kidnappers are still on the rampage.

Last year an expatriate Missionary, Rev. Phyllis Sortor, with the Free Methodist Church in Seattle, United States was   abducted by a five-man gang. She was released after so much pressure from the American Embassy. It remains uncertain whether ransom was paid or not.

A former commissioner for Land and Housing, Mr. Steven Maiyaki, was abducted by unknown gunmen on his way to his farm in Osara, Adavi Local Government Area.

Before then, Justice Samuel Obayomi of Ebogogo High Court in Adavi was abducted and his orderly, Corporal Usman Musa, shot dead on the spot.
The kidnappers later demanded N150 million as ransom before they could release the judge.

A judge of the Upper Area Court in Idah, Mr Timothy Salihu, and a retired Inspector of Area C courts, Mr Aliyu Okeme,  were abducted at gun-point on May 19, along Idah-Lokoja road. An undisclosed amount was paid to secure their release two days later.

On June 12, Justice Siaka Momoh-Jimoh Usman of the Customary Court of Appeal, Lokoja was abducted, and his police orderly, Corporal Tijani Mohammed murdered. He gained freedom two days after N10 million ransom was allegedly paid.

Others who fell into the trap of kidnappers were Justices Aliu Okeme and Timothy Ali as well as the two state’s auditors.  The latter were kidnapped while on their way to Idah for official assignment.

Security experts observed that armed robbers, cultists and terror groups displaced from the North-East and South-South are fleeing to the state.

The grim picture of insecurity has prompted  Governor Yahaya Bello to  seek Federal Government’s attention on the plight of the people of the state.

His effort to stem the tide in kidnapping cases may have started yielding results as the searchlights of the army and that of the police are now beamed on the state.

The Chief of Army Staff who visited the state recently indicated that the more troops would be sent there to flush out criminals.

The Acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris has also ordered the immediate deployment of a Special Strike Force to Kogi State to combat the criminals.

He said: “The deployment of the Special Strike Force becomes imperative as the Nigeria Police Force can no longer watch innocent citizens suffer in the hands of dreaded criminals rampaging within Kogi State and its environs.

“With the presence of the Strike Force, Kogi and its environs will enjoy peace and tranquility.”

The IG advised the officers not to become demi-gods, but serve the people.

He also urged the public to avail the team the desired cooperation and assistance. The Strike Force is added to the 32 men from Federal Special Anti-
Robbery Squad‎ (SARS) that were earlier deployed to assist the state in overcoming the menace.

They use helicopters for aerial surveillance in order to track kidnappers’ hideouts.

The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Eseile Irioge, and the Operational Commander Federal SARS said they had already busted ‎three hideouts with many of the suspected kidnappers already in their custody.

“So far so good we have a very good number of kidnappers in our hands who are leading us to get to the others, he said.

“Kidnappers who have been giving citizens of Kogi State sleepless nights may have to relocate.”

He warned people not to join hands with the criminals, saying they only need information from the public. “We are going to hit the criminals till they leave the state,” he added.

‎Governor Bello who spoke when the chief of Army Staff paid a courtesy call on the Ohinohi of Ebiraland   warned the criminals to leave the state immediately.

He disclosed that he had conferred with President Buhari to rid the state of criminality.

His words: “We have put heads together with the Chief of Army staff and with all security agencies to rout the criminals from the state. It is not an empty threat.

“I want to advise the criminals and those who harbor them that the end of the road has come for them in Kogi.”

He said within one year in office the Chief of Army Staff has successfully routed Boko Haram terrorists in the North East and he would do it again in Kogi State.

He spoke further: “We have a very difficult terrain but our security men would be able to live up to the task. There can’t be any meaningful development without security.”

Speaking about those who broke into a police officer’s house and killed him, he said the criminals had made the greatest mistake of their lives, promising that the long arm of the law would soon catch up with them.

“But we want your support. Volunteer information and report appropriately. The era of reporting to security agents and your identity is disclosed and your life endangered is over.

While calling for vigilance, he assured the residents: “The jungle, the hills and the forest would be hot for the criminals. Our cities, our houses would even be hotter for the criminals. Any form of criminality would not be tolerated.

“And any house from which they are being apprehended, that house will go down. The policy of ‘know your neighbor’ is in effect.”

He said everyone must know who his or her neighbor is, including the strangers and visitors.

“If you don’t know and we nab them the neighborhood would also be invited to give account of reasons why they harbor such criminals.”

The government’s promises sound good, but delivering those promises is a different kettle of fish.

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