Kidnap Kingpin Dies In Kogi Gun Duel
- Security operatives arrest another terrorizing Benue, Kogi axis
Temporary relief may have come for residents of Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State and its environs as security operatives on Saturday killed a notorious kidnap kingpin in a gun battle.
However, a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Onogwu Mohammed, on Sunday was silent on the identity of the kingpin but said he was killed during a gun duel in an operation led by the Chairman of Olamaboro Local Government Area, Hon Adejoh Friday Nicodemus.
Reports said the deceased criminal once planned the abduction of his father and collected a four million Naira ransom from distressed family members.
Known for his dangerous exploits in kidnapping and armed robbery, the middle-aged kidnapper has always evaded law enforcement agencies but met his unfortunate death after encountering the security operatives in the area.
Similarly, reports indicated that the combined security operation, involving teams from the neighborhood, also nabbed another kidnap chieftain identified as Kizito Ocheme alias Igbo.
Igbo is accused of kidnapping and terrorizing people between Olamaboro Local government and Otukpa axis of Ogbadibo Local government of Benue State. The reports confirmed that the suspect was eventually apprehended while trying to escape from security operatives who were combing the area.
According to the Local Government Chairman, Hon Adejoh Friday, measures being put in place by Governor Yahaya Bello and the entire leadership of Kogi State Government to guarantee the safety of lives and properties of citizens are yielding positive results with criminals now finding Kogi State a no-go-area.
The Council boss said, in line with the Governor’s directives that the Kogi people deserves peace and should sleep with their eyes closed, his administration would not spare any effort to ensure the government’s good intention is crowned with lasting peace in the locality.
Reacting to the successes recorded by the security team, Governor Bello said the Local Government as the framework upon which the State government structure is formed, issues of security if adequately resolved at that level, would reflect and impact positively on the state
He noted that the results so far recorded were largely due to the morale boost and support the Governor is continuously giving to security agencies as well as the cooperation from the citizens and synergy among security operatives.
The governor praised the security agencies for their effort in ensuring peace in the state, reiterating that Government at all levels would not relent in their efforts towards sustaining the drive for a peaceful Kogi state by making every nooks and cranny of the state unsafe for criminal elements and their sponsors.
