Kogi State Government has reiterated that it will not enter into any form of negotiation with criminal elements, even as concerns over rising insecurity continue to intensify across the state.
The administration maintains that it has both the capacity and the strategy required to confront the growing threats.
Kogi, one of the North-Central states experiencing a resurgence of violent attacks, has witnessed several abductions in recent weeks. Armed bandits carried out two separate attacks in Yagba East Local Government Area last week, though security operatives were able to rescue five abducted individuals. A similar incident occurred on Sunday in Yagba West, where gunmen abducted a pastor and his wife during a church service.
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Tuesday, the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, restated the government’s uncompromising stance.
“In Kogi State, we don’t negotiate. The governor has made it clear that he will not bow to any criminal. We have the capacity to take them out, we have the capacity to deal with the situation, so we are not going to negotiate with any of them,” Fanwo said.
He noted that the state remains resolute in its security approach despite casualties recorded during recent operations.
“We regret that in the exchange of fire between the kidnappers and security agencies, two people lost their lives. But many of the criminals now know that Kogi is a no-go area for them. We did not negotiate with any criminal, and we are not interested in doing so,” he added.
Fanwo assured residents that the government will continue deploying all available security resources to track, confront, and dismantle criminal groups operating within the state.
