The Kogi State government says it is working vigorously to rescue three children kidnapped at a housing estate in Ajaokuta Local Government Area of the state on Friday.
The abductors have made a demand of N100 million ransom for their release.
Commissioner for Information and Communication, Kingsley Fanwo, declared in a statement he issued on Saturday that the government remained committed to the security of the people.
He stated that the government was working alongside security agencies, and vigilance groups to ensure that the abducted children are rescued alive and the assailants brought to book.
“There is already a massive deployment to the area to achieve results.
“Kogi is known for distinguishing herself in ensuring security of lives and property of not only the residents, but also of travellers crossing the state to other places.
“In as much as we activate dynamism in our security architecture and strategy, we recognise the fact that some cowards will sometimes try to undermine our efforts.
“What we have always done in such circumstances is to go after the criminals, apprehend them and bring them to justice,’’ he stated.
The commissioner assured that the state government would not shirk its responsibility and would continue to work with security agencies to retain its position as “the safest state in the country.’’
Kogi also condemned the attack on a ceramics company, also in Ajaokuta on Friday night.
Fanwo noted that police investigation had started on the attack.
“Security has been beefed up around the area and the affected company is cooperating with law enforcement agents to unravel the attackers.
“We urge the people of Ajaokuta and indeed, Kogi in general to go about their normal businesses as we have put in place, stringent security measures to ensure the safety of all,’’ he added.
Fanwo enjoined community leaders, political actors and everyone to contribute to the state’s security architecture geared at keeping the state safe.
In another development, six persons, including two expatriates and two police inspectors were killed by gunmen on Friday in an attack launched against their convoy in Kogi
Also killed in what looks like guerrilla attack were two drivers of the expatriates of West Africa Ceramics Company Ajaokuta, Kogi
SP William Ovye-Aya, the image maker of Kogi Police Command, made the disclosure on Saturday in a statement in Lokoja.
Ovye-Aya explained that the six victims, two expatriates, two company drivers and two police inspectors died in the exchange of fire with the hoodlums along Lokoja-Ajaokuta road around 8 p.m on Friday.
According to the image maker, the expatriates were being escorted by police to the Ceramic Company that evening, when the gunmen attacked them.
He said that the Area Commander and a detachment of Military in the area had to be reinforced to the scene of incident before the attackers fled.
The image maker said already, the Kogi Commissioner of Police, Edward Egbuka, had visited the scene for an on-the-spot assessment.
He said that the CP has equally ordered the deployment of additional operational assets consisting of Operatives of the Police Mobile Force, Counter Terrorism Unit, Quick Response Unit, State Intelligence Bureau in synergy with other security agencies to restore normalcy in the area.
“The CP is assuring the public that the Command is committed to working in synergy with other security agencies as well as patriotic stakeholders to make the State a safe and secure place for all and sundry.
“He has further asked the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) to commence investigations into the unfortunate incident so as to unravel the remote and immediate cause of the attack with a view to bringing the perpetrators to book,” Ovye-Aya assured. (NAN)
