Yahaya Bello, the governor of Kogi State, has vowed that his administration will continue to destroy houses and properties traced to any criminal elements in the state.
Bello disclosed this on Monday, October 4, 2021, at the flagging off ceremony of Exercise Enduring Peace by the Nigerian Army in Zariagi and Kabba junction under Adavi local government areas of Kogi State.
Bello, who maintained that his administration will leave no stone unturned to destroy all criminal hideouts in Kogi State, commended the Nigerian Army under the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Farouk Yahaya, for reinstalling courage on Nigerians in their recent onslaught on insurgency, banditry bedeviling the nation today.
The Governor, who was represented by the State Security Adviser, Commodore Jerry Omodara rtd, said the military onslaught on insurgents and bandits in North East, West, and other parts of the country is a clear attestation that the military is determined to end all forms of insecurity in the country.
Governor Bello however commended the synergies among security agencies in the country just as he urged them to remain resolute in the fight against criminalities in Nigeria.
“My administration will not spare any criminals in Kogi State. We will continue to demolish their house and properties no matter how connected they are. Kogi is a home of peace and my administration determined that Kogite sleeps with their two eyes closed,” he added.
Earlier in his remarks, the Commander, Army Record, Major General Okpe William Ali, said the Exercise Enduring Peace is an Army level exercise designed to be conducted in the last quarter of the year to checkmate all forms of criminalities as the Yuletide season approaches.
“This is as a result of the prevailing security challenges across the country. It may interest our guests to know that similar exercises are also ongoing in other parts of the country under different names depending on the threats perception and peculiarities of each region” he added.
Ali maintained that Exercise Enduring Peace is expected to hold from 4th October 2021 to 23 December 2021.
Continuing, the Commander added that, “the exercise will involve series of operational activities including patrols, ambushes, and raid of criminal hideouts.
“It will also witness some non-kinetic activities in the form of Civil-Military Cooperation (Cimicy Programmes such as Medical Outreach amongst others. Our choice of Medical Outreach to kick start Exercise ENDURING PEACE is firmly rooted in our belief that the support of host communities is key to the success of the entire exercise and operations.
“Therefore, this Medical Outrage is put together to support the host communities within our areas of operation for their cooperation. It is also meant to further cement the existing cordial relationship between Command Army Records and the host communities.”
Ali described all security agencies as critical stakeholders who must work together to achieve a common goal of safeguarding the life and property of Nigerians.
Saliu Jimoh, a member of the Hunters Group of Nigeria, Kogi State Chapter who spoke on behalf of the host communities said through a collaborative effort with security agencies, they have arrested more than 10 kidnapped suspects and freed their victims from their abductors.
