Kogi State governor, His Excellency Yahaya Bello on Monday met with local government chairmen, professional hunters, heads of vigilantes, and the head of the Nigerian Legion in the state for a security strategic meeting.
The Governor commended the security personnel and charged them to up their games in the battle against criminal elements in the state. Bello stressed that there was a need to strengthen the process of information and intelligence gathering and synergy among security units in the state.
He noted that amongst all achievements and successes of his administration, security tops the rank and will do what it takes to ensure the people of the state live in peace. He charged the non-conventional security personnel to intensify efforts in Identifying all criminals, their collaborators, informants, sponsors, and leaders, and deal with them following the law of the land.
“I want to reiterate my stand once more that I will never negotiate with criminals. Only a weak government negotiate with criminals. If you identify anybody in my government who is supporting crimes direct or indirectly please expose them and we shall deal with them like common criminals. Our people must live in peace. We will continue to fight any act of criminality till the last second of our stay in office. To the criminals outside there; I shall lead the war against you from the frontline.”
The governor urged stronger ties among all security agencies in the state and strongly warned against saboteurs.
“You must collaborate amongst yourselves to succeed. The fact that security personnel signed to die in the line of duties is not enough for them to be killed by these ragtag elements calling themselves bandits, kidnappers and terrorists. Protect yourselves and go against them with common intention” the Governor added.
Declaring the meeting open, the State Security Adviser, Commodore Jerry Omodara (Rtd) commended the non-conventional security personnel in the state and urged them to sustain the onslaught against criminal elements in complementing the effort of the conventional security agencies in the state.