Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, has announced plans to reactivate all inactive police stations in Bunu District of Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area.
The move is part of intensive crackdown on illegal mining and efforts to strengthen security architecture and protect communities from criminal activities.
The Governor disclosed this when he received stakeholders from Bunu District at Government House, Lokoja.
He assured the Bunu stakeholders that his administration would sustain security interventions and address concerns over road connectivity, educational infrastructure and other development needs.
Governor Ododo said the district is blessed with fertile land and mineral resources which he noted has exposed communities in the area to criminal elements, warning that illegal mining would not be tolerated.
He disclosed that some suspected illegal miners had already been apprehended at Iretuba in Okene local government area as part of a state-wide crackdown on illegal mining while cautioning community members against aiding activities of illegal miners.
Ododo also disclosed that the bidding process for some road projects in the area was underway, with contractors expected to be announced soon.
He added that internal roads connecting communities have been captured in the government’s plan for phased implementation.
The Governor further said his administration has compiled unemployment data across senatorial districts and local government areas to guide the state government in its recruitment exercise, assuring that the process would be transparent and fair.
Earlier, the State Security Adviser, Commander Jerry Omodara (rtd.), said the Bunu stakeholders came to appreciate the Governor’s interventions and demonstrate Bunu’s unity in supporting efforts to address security challenges.
Also Speaking, the President of the Bunu Development Association, Johnson Kolawole, commended Ododo for appointing sons and daughters of the area to key government positions, describing the appointments as a sign of inclusion.
Kolawole, however, called for sustained security operations, noting that insecurity had created fear among residents and farmers.
While commending the establishment of a Forward Operating Base of Nigerian Army in Iluke, he appealed for the stronger local intelligence and additional road networks in the area.
Other stakeholders also appealed for continued government attention to healthcare, education, roads and illegal mining as part of efforts to improve safety and living conditions across Bunu District.
