The Commissioners of Police in Edo and Kogi States, Patrick Daaor and Naziru Kankarofi, have strengthened security collaboration between the two states to tackle kidnapping and other criminal activities in border communities.
Key Highlights
- Edo and Kogi Police Commands intensify joint operations against criminals.
- Police inspect suspected kidnapper hideouts in Agomi Forest along Abuja-Okene Highway.
- Kidnappers reportedly target long-distance travellers between 5pm and 7pm.
- Police say several criminal hideouts have been destroyed and suspects pushed into the hinterland.
- Area commanders to maintain real-time communication across the Edo-Kogi border.
- Police seek stronger cooperation from border communities to fight insecurity.
The Edo State Commissioner of Police, Patrick Daaor, and his Kogi State counterpart, Naziru Kankarofi, led the initiative during a security meeting in Okene, Kogi State, where they reviewed strategies for tackling criminal networks operating along the Edo-Kogi border.
The Edo Police Command delegation included the Police Public Relations Officer, Area Commanders in Auchi and Agenebode, and other senior officers.
The Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Area Commander, Okene, and the state Police Public Relations Officer received the delegation before the security team proceeded to Agomi Forest, a suspected hideout of kidnappers along the Abuja-Okene Highway.
Police Identify Kidnapping Hotspot
Briefing the two Commissioners of Police at the entrance to the forest, the Area Commander, Okene, Nosa Onukwube, said kidnappers operating along the route mainly target long-distance travellers.
Onukwube said reported kidnapping incidents along the corridor usually occur between 5pm and 7pm, rather than in the morning.
He explained that victims are taken deep into the forest, where the criminals allegedly negotiate ransom payments.
Speaking to journalists inside the forest, the Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Naziru Kankarofi, commended the collaborative efforts of the Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo, and Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, to tackle criminal activities across their respective states.
He said the cooperation between the two police commands was informed by the need to strengthen security along the shared border.
“The two commands have been in operations in remote areas of the forest and most of the hideouts of the criminal elements have been destroyed and they have been pushed to the hinterland,” Kankarofi said.
Edo, Kogi Police Destroy Criminal Hideouts
Kankarofi said the two states shared extensive borders and that residents of border communities had been cooperating with security agencies in the fight against crime.
He said the joint security efforts were consistent with the vision of the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to strengthen cooperation among police commands and improve the country’s overall security architecture.
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The Kogi CP urged residents to continue providing useful information to security agencies to support ongoing operations against kidnappers and other criminal groups.
Edo CP Promises Sustained Security Operations
The Edo State Commissioner of Police, Patrick Daaor, said the collaboration would strengthen the existing law enforcement strategy between the two states.
According to him, part of the new approach would involve real-time communication between Area Commanders from Edo and Kogi States to ensure faster responses to security threats along the border.
Daaor acknowledged the difficult terrain in the area but said the challenging topography could be overcome through sustained cooperation and coordinated operations.
“We encourage more collaboration from the local communities as we are ready to work with them to fight crime and criminality. We will sustain the collaboration in line with the vision of the IGP,” he said.
“This corridor is a very strategic corridor and we will make sure that it is free from criminality.”
Police Meet Border Community Leaders
The Edo and Kogi Commissioners of Police also met with residents and members of Oguda community in Okene Local Government Area of Kogi State.
The Chairman of Okene Local Government Area, Hon. Ahmed Nuhu Enesi, attended the meeting, where stakeholders discussed additional measures to strengthen security and protect residents and travellers along the border corridor.
The police commands said they would sustain the joint operations and community engagement as part of efforts to prevent kidnapping and other criminal activities in Edo and Kogi border communities.
