Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, has assured residents that his administration is fully committed to taking the fight to criminal elements terrorising the state, stressing that there is no room for negotiations with those bent on disrupting peace and security in the state.
The Governor gave the assurance at the Government House in Lokoja, when he received members of the Lion Special Squadron, led by the Special Adviser on Solid Minerals to Governor Ododo and Coordinator of the Lion Squadron Special Operations, Hon. Asiru Oluwasegun.
Governor Ododo said his administration had taken bold steps to protect lives and property, describing community protection as the first line of defence against criminal activities.
According to him, the meeting was convened to reassure communities across Kogi State that government would not abandon them to criminal elements.
“We have taken a decision to defend ourselves. This meeting is to reassure communities across Kogi State that the government is with them,” the governor said.
“Kogi State is our state. We are not lazy people; we are farmers. Our state is known for agriculture—we produce what we eat and eat what we produce. But with the influx of criminals, some of our farmers can no longer access their farmlands.”
He vowed that the state would take the fight to criminal hideouts wherever they may be, noting that criminals would not be allowed to displace law-abiding citizens from their ancestral communities.
“If criminals think they can come and displace us, that is a lie. We are ready to take the fight to them wherever they are,” Ododo declared, adding that the state’s God-given resources and land would not be surrendered to criminals.
Governor Ododo also expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his continued support in strengthening security operations in the state.
Earlier, Hon. Asiru Oluwasegun explained that the Lion Squadron for Special Operations, is a voluntary community-based security group prepared to support conventional security agencies in safeguarding forests and rural communities.
Presenting the group to the governor, he said the group is known for its integrity, deep familiarity with forest terrain, and strong ties with rural communities, making it effective in intelligence gathering and local security support.
“We cannot allow anybody to come and kill our children. We cannot allow anybody to take our communities from us. The Lion Squad is ready to work voluntarily with security agencies to secure our forests and protect our people”, he said.
