By Abah Benjamin Eneojoh
Lokoja
Feb. 17, 2026
His Excellency Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has commended the Nigerian Army for what he described as a courageous and sustained onslaught against banditry and other criminal activities threatening peace in parts of Kogi State, reaffirming his administration’s resolve to deepen collaboration with security agencies to safeguard lives and property.
The Governor gave the commendation on Tuesday in Lokoja during an official visit to Chari Maigumeri Barracks, headquarters of the 12 Brigade Nigerian Army, where he met with senior military officers and troops involved in ongoing security operations across the state.
Governor Ododo praised the bravery, professionalism and resilience of officers and men of the Nigerian Army, noting that recent coordinated operations have significantly disrupted criminal networks and restored confidence among residents of previously vulnerable communities.
During the visit, military authorities presented victims rescued from recent operations carried out in parts of the state, alongside a display of recovered ammunition and other items seized from suspected criminal elements. The presentation, the Governor said, was a clear indication of the Army’s commitment to protecting innocent citizens and dismantling threats to public safety.
Reassuring the troops of his government’s support, Governor Ododo emphasized that security remains a top priority of his administration, pledging continued logistical and moral backing for security agencies to enable them sustain the tempo of operations. He stressed that lasting peace and development in Kogi State are inseparable from effective security architecture.
In his remarks, commanders of the 12 Brigade, Brigadier General Kasim Umar-Sidi assured residents that operations would be sustained, with intensified patrols and intelligence-led actions aimed at flushing out remaining criminal elements and maintaining a strong security presence in identified flashpoints across the state.
Observers said, it is strategy of close engagement with security formations as part of a broader effort to consolidate peace, encourage economic activities, and reassure citizens of government’s unwavering commitment to their safety and right to worship.
