The Nigerian government will deploy a special military squad to Kogi State to tackle kidnapping and other related crimes that have bedevilled the state in recent times, a military official said on Tuesday.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai, informed the Governor of the State, Mr Yahaya Bello, of the planned deployment during a meeting with him at the state’s capital, Lokoja.

He said that the Federal Government was worried over the increase in kidnapping and other related crimes and was ready to curb the situation.

The Army Chief was in the state with some of his men on a working visit to the military formation to see the challenges facing them and proffer a solution to enable them carry on with their constitutional responsibility of ensuring internal security.

The Army General in his speech first commended Governor Bello for providing logistics and other necessary support to security agencies in the state and promised that a special squared of military personnel would be in the state soon to curb the activities of the kidnappers.

On his part, Governor Bello requested for more help from the Federal Government, saying that he had initiated ‘Operation Know Your Neighbour’ in the state to further check the activities of criminals.

He stressed that any new face found within the neighbourhood must be reported.

Governor Bello further told the Army Chief that the state would soon accommodate a death sentence in its law for any kidnapper caught.

At the end of the meeting, General Buratai told reporters that the military had educated its men to stay off politics and face what they were trained to do, ensuring that there was internal security.

If words are marched with action, the people of Kogi State and travellers will feel safe within the state that has recorded several kidnap cases in the last few weeks. (Channels TV)

•Photo shows Governor Bello.

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