Lokoja, Nigeria
The Governor of Nigeria’s central Kogi State, Ahmed Ododo, has moved to calm public concern, clarifying that a series of stringent new security protocols do not amount to a formal state of emergency. In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media, Isah Ismail, the governor insisted the “Executive Proclamation” is a necessary tactical shift designed to dismantle criminal networks and improve coordination between security agencies.
The measures follow a major discovery of a “large cache of weapons” by security forces earlier this week. Under the new rules, the state government will enforce mandatory identification checks and a rigorous verification process for all security personnel to root out “fake” operatives often used by criminal gangs. Gov. Ododo warned that any individual or organisation found aiding bandits or terrorists would be treated as an “enemy of the state.” Crucially, the governor invoked a 2016 state law that allows the government to seize and forfeit any property used to facilitate violent crimes, such as kidnapping or terrorism.
Key Measures Under the New Protocol
While the governor emphasised that constitutional rights remain intact, the new “security architecture” includes several aggressive steps to curb rising insecurity:
- Mandatory ID Checks: Increased stop-and-search operations requiring citizens to provide valid identification.
- Operative Verification: A crackdown on “fake” security personnel through a formal audit of agencies.
- Property Forfeiture: Homes, warehouses, or land used by criminal elements will be seized by the Kogi State Government.
- Prosecution of Informants: Direct legal action against anyone found to be providing logistical support to bandits.
The governor defended the move as a constitutional exercise of his powers as the state’s Chief Security Officer, seeking to reassure the international community and residents that the measures are aimed at “protecting lives and property” rather than suspending civil liberties.
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