By Staff Reporter
The Commissioners of Police in Edo and Kogi States, Patrick Daaor and Naziru Kankarofi, have strengthened security collaboration to tackle kidnapping and other criminal activities in border communities between the two states.
The two police chiefs, accompanied by senior officers from their respective commands, inspected suspected kidnappers’ hideouts in Agomi Forest along the Abuja-Okene highway as part of efforts to develop a joint strategy against criminal elements operating in the area.
The Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, alongside the Auchi and Agenebode Area Commanders and other senior officers, accompanied CP Daaor to Okene, Kogi State, where they met with their counterparts to discuss intelligence sharing, joint operations and other measures to secure the border corridor.
The Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Kankarofi, the Okene Area Commander and the state Police Public Relations Officer received the Edo delegation before proceeding to Agomi Forest, identified as a hotspot and hideout allegedly used by kidnappers.
Briefing the two commissioners at the entrance to the forest, the Okene Area Commander, Nosa Onukwube, said kidnappers operating along the Abuja-Okene route often target long-distance travellers.
He disclosed that most incidents occurred between 5pm and 7pm, explaining that victims were usually taken deep into the forest, where the criminals allegedly negotiated ransom payments.
Speaking to journalists during the inspection, Kankarofi commended the collaborative efforts of the Kogi and Edo State governments in tackling insecurity across their shared boundaries.
He said the partnership between the two police commands had already yielded results, with security forces conducting operations in remote parts of the forest and destroying several suspected criminal hideouts.
“The two commands have been in operations in remote areas of the forest and most of the hideouts of the criminal elements have been destroyed and they have been pushed to the hinterland,” Kankarofi said.
He noted that the two states shared extensive borders, while residents of border communities had continued to support security agencies in the fight against crime.
According to him, the collaboration is also in line with the vision of the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to strengthen inter-state cooperation and improve Nigeria’s overall security architecture.
On his part, CP Daaor said the joint approach would reinforce existing law enforcement strategies, including real-time communication and interaction between Area Commanders from both states.
He acknowledged the challenging terrain in the border areas but expressed confidence that sustained cooperation between security agencies and local communities would help overcome the difficulties.
“We encourage more collaboration from the local communities as we are ready to work with them to fight crime and criminality. We will sustain the collaboration in line with the vision of the IGP,” Daaor said.
He described the Abuja-Okene corridor as a strategic route and assured residents and travellers that the police would intensify efforts to rid the area of criminal activities.
The two commissioners subsequently held a meeting with residents and community members in Oguda town, Okene Local Government Area, where further strategies to strengthen security were discussed.
The Chairman of Okene Local Government Area, Hon. Ahmed Nuhu Enesi, also attended the meeting.
The police authorities said the collaboration between the Edo and Kogi commands would be sustained through intelligence sharing, coordinated operations, community engagement and regular interaction among commanders in the border areas.
