By Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
Security simply has to do with condition of not being threatened either physically, pasycologically, emotionally and financially while insecurity applies to situation where lives and property are not safe or being threatened.
Citizens in any given society have to be protected against being victims of insecurity hence the constitutional backing for a secured environment and establishment of an organisation or department providing security by enforcement of laws, rules and regulations as well as maintaining order to safeguard, protect and guarantee people’s lives and property.
Kogi state, being the gateway to the North and to the Southern Nigeria has, often times, proven to be a fertile milieu for crimes of various descriptions to thrive. From cultism in some higher institutions in the state; the deadly Isanlu robbery case in which about ten policemen were killed; the Tawari attack by gunmen in which about 23 people were killed including the APC chairman of Tawari Ward, Ibrahim Simbabi and the Chief Imam of the village, Zakari Salihu to the incessant Okene-Lokoja kidnapping spree in which kidnappers and robbers reaped bazaars of ransom from travelers, the story has been a horrendous one.
But, with a no-nonsense governor, since he came on board January, 2016, it was no longer business as usual for criminals. He once roared at criminals that he would smoke them out of their hiding places. And he has been launching unsparing onslaughts at them. Aside the cordial interactions between the governor and the security agencies in the state, Governor Bello had ordered the clearing of objects, verdure and thickets 40 meters on both sides of the highways. It was to ensure that the criminals have no hiding places.
At the onset of his administration Governor Bello provided over 200 utility vehicles for all security agencies in the state while equipping vigilante groups with over 500 motorcycles to work in tandem with forces to stem the tide of criminality in the hinterlands of the state in tune with his Operation Total Freedom security policies. The governor went a step further. Exploring his influence within the Nigerian military circle, the governor was behind the presence of the Nigerian Army Forward Operational Bases located across the state to secure lives and properties.
The Kogi Central, today, is more peaceful than hitherto as consequence of the foresightedness of His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello. The same goes for the East and West Senatorial Districts. The vigilante service operation, the whistle Blower policy and the domestication of the criminal justice code were the reasons for His Excellency’s security success.
Never has it happened anywhere in the country that a governor joined security operatives to pull down houses in the state which intelligence reports indicated were kidnappers’ hide-outs. Governor Bello did it at the inception of his administration. It was a signal pointer to criminals and their collaborators that a new powerful personage has emerged at the scene and that there would be no hiding place for them.
In his second tenure, he mapped out more intensive strategies of security to be implemented by Jerry Omodara, his Senior Special Adviser on security. It also meant that security in all nooks and crannies of the state was paramount in the governance of the state. These unusual interventions by the Bello-led administration bear the verisimilitude of the Doctrine of Necessity.
It is quite reassuring and commendable to note that the Yahaya Bello-led administration has not treated security challenges facing the state with kid-glove while keeping faith with his words, he took decisive steps to arm the various security outfits to the teeth with the provision of necessary tool, especially provision of 104 security patrol vehicles to various security and paramilitary agencies. These are the Army, the Navy, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Sealy the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Nigeria Custom, the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Nigeria Correctional Service, the Federal Road Safety Corps and the Vigilante Groups all of who were provided with security vehicles to enhance their operational capabilities.
Another area the present administration has risen proactively to tackle security challenges is the Governor’s endorsement of whistleblowing policy. The kernel of the whistleblowing policy, like that of the Federal Government, is to identify and arrest criminals and those with the tendency to ferment trouble. In the whistleblowing approach, security informants who disclose information that can lead to the arrest of anyone deemed to be a security risk to the state will be compensated.
To make the whistleblowing policy effective, the State Government provided dedicated phone numbers through which confidential information can reach the Government for action and the whistleblower is assured of utmost protection.
Perhaps, the most decisive move to tackle security challenges in the State is the onslaught against well-known kidnappers and criminals in the State with a success story. In some instances, the Governor, exercising his political sagaciousness would lead a team of security personnel for the demolition of houses well known for serving as a hideout for kidnappers.
The efforts of the State Government in crushing criminals registered dividend when the state vigilante group confronted kidnappers on Okene-Lokoja and Abuja highways killing four of them while others fled with bullet wounds. This in addition to hundreds of suspected kidnappers arrested by the police for prosecution.
Besides the above, was another significant breakthrough in the war against kidnappers, as three of such criminally-minded elements were gunned down. While two of their informants were arrested. The three kidnappers were killed in a gun battle on Lokoja-Okene high way by a combined team of hunters from Okene and Adavi local government area of the state. Items recovered from them included three sophisticated pump action, rifles, bullets, mask and charms. Those found guilty are serving various jail terms in correctional centres.
The Yahaya Bello-led administration has equally mapped out various strategies aimed at engaging and empowering youths in various youth empowerment programmes. The administration’s major policy on Youth placed empowerment is manifested in the involvement of 239 youths, on placed monthly stipends from across the state for carrying out various public-oriented works. This is to discourage them from indulging in criminal activities and at the same time putting money in their pocket to fulfil their various financial and social commitments.
It was, therefore, not surprising when Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello garnered several awards, including that by the Inspector-General of Police, for his unglagging dedication to the security of the people of Kogi state.