The Commander of the Army Record Command, Lokoja, Kogi state, Brigadier-General Henry Ayamasowe has said that Boko Haram insurgents have been trooping down to Kogi State massively in the last three years, giving rise to the presence of Boko Haram members in the state.
The Brigadier-General, who paraded 17 criminals, including two Boko Haram kingpins before the state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, at the Chari Megumeri barracks, said the people were picked up following a special operation of the army.
He said that the Boko Haram kingpin was arrested in one of the sect’s cell in Okene after a manhunt by men of the Nigerian Army.
According to him, dangerous weapons including AK 47 riffles, EIDs, 19 face masks with Boko Haram arabic inscription, locally made guns, phones, sim cards among others were recovered from the criminals.
Brigadier-General Henry Ayamasowe, said that the officers combed the entire central senatorial district of the state for about three days before the breakthrough could be recorded, adding that the operation also led to the arrest of armed robbers and kidnappers that have been terrorizing the state in the past few months.
Those who were paraded included the hoodlums that attacked a police station in Eika, Okehi local government area of Kogi state which killed two police officers about three weeks ago.
Speaking during the parade, Governor Yahaya Bello made it clear that all the houses where the people were arrested would be demolished as a deterrent for those going into crime in the state.
The governor noted that the state was a wrong place for criminals as his administration had resolved to smoke them out.
“We are going after them, we will get them and we are getting them, security agents and the entire people must be vigilant, my administration will not condone any form of criminality, where ever they are, we will smoke them out.”
Governor Yahaya Bello however said he would continue to invest in the security of the people, urging the people of the state to always volunteer information that would further make the state safer for them to work and live. [myad]
