In response to rising insecurity in Kogi State, the government has vowed not to negotiate with criminals, insisting that it has the capacity to tackle the situation.

Kogi is among the North-Central states currently experiencing a surge in criminal attacks, which have led to several abductions in recent weeks.

Last week, armed bandits carried out two separate kidnappings in Yagba East Local Government Area, though security operatives were able to rescue five victims a few days later.

On Sunday, another attack occurred in Yagba West Local Government Area, where a pastor and his wife were abducted during a church service.

Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief programme on Tuesday, Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, emphasized that the state government would not yield to criminal threats.

“In Kogi State, we don’t negotiate. The governor has made it clear that he will not bow to any criminal. We have the capacity to take them out, we have the capacity to deal with the situation, so we are not going to negotiate with any of them,” Fanwo said.

He added: “We regret that in the exchange of fire between the kidnappers and security agencies, two people lost their lives. But many of the criminals now know that Kogi is a no-go area for them. We did not negotiate with any criminal, and we are not interested in doing so.”

The Commissioner stressed that the state government will continue to deploy all available security resources to confront and neutralize criminal elements. (CHANNELS TV)