Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State has expressed deep concern over the growing wave of insecurity in the state, attributing it to the ripple effects of intensified military operations in the troubled Northeast and Northwest regions of Nigeria.
He made this known during his official visit to the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja on Friday.
In his remarks, Governor Ododo declared that Kogi State will not be allowed to become a refuge for fleeing criminal elements. He strongly condemned the recent influx of suspected criminals who, according to him, are relocating to Kogi to escape military pressure in other parts of the country.
“Kogi is not and will never be a resting place for criminals,” he said firmly. “We are confronting these threats head-on. Our strategy may not involve public noise, but our actions are effective and targeted. The message is clear — those who seek to disturb the peace of Kogi will be dealt with accordingly.”
The governor highlighted Kogi’s unique geographic position as a contributing factor to its vulnerability. Sitting at the heart of the country, Kogi shares borders with ten states including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), which makes it a strategic corridor for movement — both legal and illegal. This central positioning, he said, means that activities from surrounding areas inevitably spill into the state.
“With so many neighboring states, some level of exposure is natural,” Ododo explained. “But what matters is how we respond — and we are not folding our arms. We are strengthening our internal security systems and building partnerships with federal forces to protect our people.”
Beyond the security challenge, the governor also pointed to decades of underutilization of the state’s vast natural and agricultural resources as another root cause of unrest. According to him, the failure to harness these economic opportunities has left many youths idle and vulnerable to recruitment into criminal networks.
“Kogi is blessed with more than 32 mineral resources in commercial quantities, yet these assets remain largely untapped,” he lamented. “Our land is fertile and suitable for virtually all types of agriculture, but year after year, it has been ignored. The result is growing unemployment, poverty, and frustration — all of which create a breeding ground for insecurity.”
Governor Ododo also decried the disturbing trend of criminals establishing hideouts in remote forest areas of the state. “We’re seeing an increase in individuals setting up camps in our forests — these are not ordinary citizens. These are people running from justice, people with no intention of living peacefully in society. That alone poses a significant threat, and we are taking proactive steps to dismantle those camps and flush them out,” he warned.
He reiterated his administration’s unwavering commitment to ensuring safety across all parts of Kogi State. He assured that the government is investing in intelligence gathering, community engagement, and inter-agency cooperation to keep the state secure.
“We are not just protecting lives, we are protecting livelihoods,” the governor said. “Security is the foundation of development, and as a government, we are fully aware that no investment, no education, and no progress can thrive in an unsafe environment. That is why we are prioritizing security as the first line of action.”
Ododo ended his visit by calling on fellow Nigerians and leaders at all levels to unite in confronting the country’s security challenges. “This is not a fight for one state alone,” he emphasized. “It is a national responsibility. If we all play our part, we will make Nigeria — and Kogi — safer for the next generation.”