Gov Ododo Vows to Flush Criminals Out of Kogi Forests, Declares Zero Tolerance for Banditry

By Favour Ojo

Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has doubled down on his administration’s war against insecurity, vowing to reclaim the state’s vast forest reserves from bandits, kidnappers, and illegal miners threatening rural livelihoods and food production. During a visit to the Forest Guard training camp in Lokoja on Sunday, the governor declared that “there will be no safe haven for terrorists, bandits and other violent criminals operating within the state.”

Ododo directly linked the security offensive to agricultural stability, noting that ungoverned forest areas have become operational bases for criminals who disrupt farming communities and supply routes. “The vast and largely unguarded forest areas in some parts of the state has become a major security challenge, providing hideouts for criminal groups and enabling attacks on innocent citizens,” he said. The governor stressed that protecting life and property remains his administration’s “primary responsibility and a sacred covenant with the people.”

The new Forest Guard initiative is a key pillar of Kogi’s security strategy. Recruits are being trained to strengthen surveillance, deny criminals operational space, and improve response capacity across vulnerable farming communities. Ododo urged the guards to discharge their duties with “discipline, patriotism and a strong commitment to service.” The programme aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Forest Guard framework, implemented through the Office of the National Security Adviser in collaboration with the DSS and other security agencies.

Speaking at a recent security summit in Abuja, Ododo drew a hard line: “Let me be clear, this administration will not negotiate with criminals. I was not elected to pamper the enemies of our peace. Those who disturb our peace will not enjoy peace. We will confront them, we will crush them, and we will defeat them.”_ He warned that bandits are “changing tactics” by using drones and coordinated groups, but insisted the state has studied their strategies and is “responding effectively to eliminate them.”

To back the rhetoric, Ododo inspected newly acquired Armoured Personnel Carriers and other assets in Lokoja on Saturday. The state has also deployed advanced communication systems and drones for intelligence gathering.

The governor has taken a hands-on approach, visiting flashpoints including Iluke in Kabba-Bunu LGA after a bandit attack that killed three residents, including a school vice principal. “As a field worker, I do not wait for second-hand information. I visited the communities, assessed the terrain, and concluded we must act decisively,”_ Ododo said. He also visited Isanlu-Esa in Yagba West LGA following kidnappings and killings along Okunran, Okoloke, and Isanlu-Esa communities.

Beyond banditry, Ododo has declared war on illegal mining, which he says fuels insecurity in Yagba West. “If you are aiding or abetting a crime, you will be treated as a criminal. Illegal miners must be brought to book,” he warned during a visit to Isanlu-Esa. He cautioned traditional rulers against indiscriminate allocation of land to unknown individuals and directed that mining license holders be profiled by government and security agencies.

We will continue to hunt down criminal elements and wipe them out from our land,” Ododo declared. For Kogi’s 1.8 million smallholder farmers, that promise is not just about security. It’s about whether they can plant, harvest, and transport tomatoes, cassava, and maize without fear.