Ododo Bans Night Arrests in Kogi, Urges Peace »

Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, has banned night arrests across the state, directing security operatives to stop invading homes under the cover of darkness.

Ododo issued the directive on Monday while addressing first-class traditional rulers at the Banquet Hall of the Government House in Lokoja, where he also charged the monarchs to promote peace and ensure a violence-free electoral process.

“No arrest should be made in the night. If you have any case against anybody, wait till daytime, follow due process, invite the person lawfully,” the governor said.

“We will not allow our people to be harassed, intimidated or picked up like criminals in the middle of the night.”

According to Ododo, the directive is intended to protect the dignity and fundamental rights of citizens while ensuring that security operations are conducted in a civil, lawful and humane manner.

He urged the traditional rulers to report any security personnel who violates the directive, assuring them that his administration would not tolerate abuse of power.

The governor also raised concerns about local support networks aiding criminals, saying the security challenge in the state was increasingly being sustained by people within communities.

“Our problem now is not foreigners. It is our own brothers and sisters supplying food, logistics and information to criminals in the bush,” he said.

Ododo specifically warned some wood-cutters accused of assisting criminals and directed the traditional rulers to summon members of their associations and caution them against providing support to criminal elements.

“If you are caught aiding criminals, we will not spare you, even if you are my brother,” he warned.

The governor said efforts to cut off the supply routes of criminals and close compromised local markets were already putting pressure on them.

On the political front, Ododo called on the traditional rulers to use their positions to promote peaceful participation ahead of the forthcoming general election.

He urged political actors to focus on issues rather than religion or ethnicity, warning against thuggery, intimidation and other forms of electoral violence.

“We cannot be killing ourselves to get to a position. Campaign should be issue-based, not about religion or ethnicity. We are all Kogites,” he said.

The governor further urged the monarchs to caution their subjects against actions capable of disrupting the peace of the state and to work with community leaders, youths and political stakeholders to ensure that the election is conducted in an atmosphere of tolerance and mutual respect.

He also appealed to the traditional rulers to remain neutral peace advocates within their domains and prevent individuals or groups from using their communities as platforms for violence before, during and after the election.

Ododo commended the traditional rulers for their role in maintaining peace and supporting security efforts across the state, noting that some had contributed personally to efforts to confront criminality.

He also praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he described as support for Kogi State, particularly in infrastructure, security funding and the release of allocations to enable payment of workers’ salaries.

“We will be doing ourselves a disservice if we don’t appreciate Mr. President,” Ododo told the monarchs.

He cited the ongoing reconstruction of the Abuja-Lokoja-Okene-Benin highway as an example of the Federal Government’s infrastructure support to the state.

The governor also called for support for the Chief of Army Staff, stressing the importance of maintaining security and peace within communities where national security personnel operate.