No Safe Haven for Bandits, Ododo Vows to Reclaim Kogi Forests

By Margaret Abah

Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Ododo, has vowed to reclaim the state's forests from terrorists, bandits and other criminal elements, declaring that there will be no safe haven for violent groups operating within the state.

Ododo made the declaration on Sunday during a visit to the training camp of newly recruited Forest Guard trainees in Lokoja.

According to the governor, his administration is determined to rid Kogi State of criminal elements and will deploy all lawful resources necessary to ensure the safety of residents and visitors.

“There will be no safe haven for terrorists, bandits and other violent criminals operating within the state. We are determined to rid Kogi of criminal elements and guarantee the safety of our people,” he said.

He urged the trainees to carry out their duties with discipline, patriotism and a strong sense of service, noting that the vast and largely unguarded forests in some parts of the state had become hideouts for criminal groups and staging grounds for attacks on innocent citizens.

Ododo explained that the recruitment and training of Forest Guards formed a major part of the state's security strategy aimed at strengthening surveillance, denying criminals access to safe havens and improving the response capacity of security agencies.

He noted that the initiative is part of the Forest Guard Programme approved by President Bola Tinubu and being implemented through the Office of the National Security Adviser in collaboration with the Department of State Services and other security agencies.

The governor commended President Tinubu for introducing innovative measures to strengthen national security and tackle emerging threats across the country.

He also expressed appreciation to the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, for his leadership and support in advancing security reforms, while praising the Director-General of the Department of State Services, Adeola Ajayi, for supporting security operations in Kogi State.

According to him, the DSS is supervising the profiling and training of the recruits to ensure professionalism, competence and accountability.

Ododo stressed that while his administration remained committed to expanding security manpower, only individuals with proven integrity and loyalty would be entrusted with the responsibility of protecting lives and property.

He described the trainees as a valuable addition to the state's security architecture and urged them to take their training seriously in preparation for the task ahead.

The governor's visit to the training camp came a day after he inspected the first batch of Armoured Personnel Carriers procured by the state government to strengthen the operational capacity and combat readiness of security agencies.

Reaffirming that security remains a top priority of his administration, Ododo pledged sustained investment in personnel, equipment and intelligence-driven operations to make Kogi safer and more attractive for investment and development.

He assured residents that the government would continue to intensify efforts until all parts of the state were secured and citizens could go about their lawful activities without fear.

President Bola Tinubu approved the nationwide Presidential Forest Guards Initiative on May 15 to secure the country's 1,129 designated forests and flush out terrorists, bandits and criminal gangs. The programme is a joint security effort between the federal and state governments.