By Boluwaji Obahopo
The Commissioners of Police in Kogi and Edo states, CP Naziru Bello Kankarofi and CP Patrick Daaor, have intensified security collaboration between the two states with a joint patrol at Aguda Village, along the Okene-Auchi Expressway, at the Kogi-Edo boundary.
The exercise, conducted on Thursday, was aimed at assessing ongoing joint clearance operations and strengthening security around vulnerable routes and forest hideouts along the border corridor.
The patrol was attended by the Chairman of Okene Local Government Area, Hon. Enesi Ahmed Nuhu, and other security stakeholders.
The two commissioners inspected the deployment of personnel from the police and other security agencies involved in the seven-day joint clearance operation.
They also moved into identified black spots and hideouts within the border forest to assess the security situation and the readiness of personnel deployed to the area.
The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Afusat Salihu, in a statement issued on Friday in Lokoja, said the assessment would further enhance operational planning, intelligence sharing and coordinated responses to security threats along the corridor.
She said the joint operation had already yielded a major breakthrough with the rescue of nine kidnap victims abducted along the Mameramo-Adomu Road on August 11.
According to her, the victims were rescued through an intelligence-led operation involving the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy Ship Lugard, Department of State Services, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, local vigilantes and other auxiliary security forces from Kogi and Edo states.
She added that the victims were safely evacuated, debriefed and reunited with their families.
The commissioners also engaged members of the border communities during the exercise, with residents raising security concerns affecting the area and road users.
The concerns were noted, while the police assured the communities that appropriate security measures would continue to be implemented to address identified threats.
The statement said the joint patrol reaffirmed the commitment of the Kogi and Edo commands to sustained collaboration, timely intelligence sharing and coordinated operations to deny criminals access to safe havens and prevent them from exploiting the boundary between the two states.
It added that the initiative would enhance the safety of residents, travellers and other road users along the strategic Okene-Auchi corridor.
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