Army to deploy special forces to Kogi to check kidnapping

  

Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai

Worried by the increasing wave of criminal activities in Kogi State, especially Kidnapping and armed robbery, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, Tuesday, said the Nigerian Army plans to deploy Special Forces to the state.

The Army chief stated this when he paid a courtesy call to the state Governor, Yahaya Bello, at the Government House in Lokoja.

According to Buratai,  plans were at an advanced stage to deploy the troops to the affected areas in the state.

He said: “I want to assure you that very soon we will deploy Special Forces to the state. That is why I came here with the Commander, Army Headquarters Garrison; he is getting them ready and by Mondaythey should be on ground. They will come with their vehicles and their sustenance, so very soon they will come in and begin the operation.”

The COAS, who said it was regrettable that previous efforts at containing insecurity in the state had failed, assured the Governor of the commitment of the army in tackling the security challenge.

He also commended the efforts of other security agencies in the state in checking insecurity.

In his response, Governor Bello lamented the rising cases of kidnapping and armed banditry in some parts of the state and said the situation was deteriorating as new cases of kidnapping were being reported on a daily basis.

He solicited the support of the Federal Government to help rid the state of criminals.

“With the support of the military and other security agencies in the state, the security situation in the state improved tremendously. But the situation has changed, recently new cases are reported on a daily basis and this is frustrating. It is so bad that some travelers who hitherto pass through the state have started running away from the state. That is why we are soliciting the assistance of the Federal Government to help us with equipment and the force to clear the hills and forest where they are hiding.”