Gov. Bello declares war on kidnappers

Kogi Government said it had donated 12 vehicles to security agencies in the State to assist them in curbing kidnapping, armed robbery and other violent crimes.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Strategy, Alhaji Abdulkareem Abdulmalik, announced this in a statement in Lokoja on Sunday.

He said Gov. Yahaya Bello has declared total war on kidnapping, armed robbery and cultism among other crimes, adding that the vehicles were to enhance the operations of the agencies.

The statement said the governor was particularly disturbed by the kidnapping of a traditional ruler, the Etsu of Elete, Chief Aminu Aku, and urged the security agencies to rise to the occasion.

Aku was kidnapped at about 8.30 p.m. on May 20 in his town while returning from a function at Adogo, the headquarters of Ajaokuta Local Government Area.

``The governor received the news with sadness like other ones in recent times. Those behind the dastardly acts will be fished out and made to face the full weight of the law.

``The kidnapping of the monarch ranks among the high profile cases of such acts in a very short time”, the statement quoted the governor as saying.

According to the statement, efforts being made to reduce crime in the state from what it was before the governor was inaugurated have started yielding positive results.

He charged law enforcement agents to aggressively go after criminals that have constituted themselves to threats to life and property, saying that they should not be allowed any hiding place in the state

It said the governor charged traditional, community and opinion leaders to close ranks and be more vigilant, urging them to promptly report suspicious movement or persons to security agency nearest to them.