By Stephen Adeleye
The Kogi State Government says President Bola Tinubu’s administration has significantly improved security coordination between the Federal Government and states in the last three years.
The State Security Adviser, retired Cdr Jerry Omodara, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Lokoja Abuja.
Omodara said Tinubu met a federal security system already in place, but brought in security experts and ordered a comprehensive review of emerging security challenges facing the country.
According to him, the review has led to a clearly defined national security architecture that allows sub-national and federal security agencies to work hand in hand.
”The administration of Gov. Ahmed Ododo has aligned itself with this federal arrangement and it has enhanced security operations in Kogi.
He noted that no two states have the same security dynamics, adding that Kogi designed its own local architecture based on its geographical location and topography, while working with federal agencies.
The security adviser revealed that the state had established an intelligence base in each of its 239 wards..
He also said that the state was also using hunters, vigilantes, professional hunters and the newly recruited forest guards to secure forest corridors and communities.
“The major advantage under Tinubu is the policies and collaborative joint clearance operations where local security operatives are embedded with the Army, Navy, Police and Department of State Services (DSS),” he said.
He added that the state applied both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches in tackling insecurity in the state.
According to him, the kinetic approach involves clearance operations, forest patrols and raids, while the non-kinetic involves tracing the roots of criminals who migrated from other states and offering them a window to surrender.
“We don’t negotiate with bandits. We offer them the opportunity to surrender from a position of strength, to allow farmers to farm for food security, schools to be safe and market women to move freely.”
Omadara also said that in some instances, the state government blocked roads, markets and motor parks in areas where bandits have strongholds, particularly in Kogi West Senatorial District, cutting off their access to food and highways.
He said that the state was not at the mercy of kidnappers and emphasised that the government would continue to go after those who refuse to lay down their arms.
On recruitment, he said that Tinubu had strengthened the manpower of security agencies, which had enabled Kogi to reopen police stations closed for 10 to 15 years due to lack of personnel and logistics.
He described as a major milestone the establishment of a common platform where the 36 State Security Advisers now meet regularly with the National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, to share intelligence, successes and challenges.
“I was Security Adviser under former governor Yahaya Bello, but I am not sure I entered the NSA office except to deliver a letter.
“Today we have direct access and a directorate that relates with all states,” he said.
Omodara noted that insecurity had evolved from armed robbery and house-breaking 10 years ago to highway kidnapping and cybercrime.
He said gaps would continue however to be blocked through synergy, intelligence gathering, cooperation and technology-driven security including the use of drones and other equipment.
He added that the National Assembly’s Cybercrime Law and the move by states like Rivers to pass State Police bill showed that security required collective effort.(NAN)
Edited by Deborah Coker
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