From Ebohon Joan
The Kogi and Edo State Police Commands have stepped up security efforts along their shared boundary following growing concerns over kidnapping and banditry in communities around the area.
The Commissioners of Police in both states, CP Naziru Bello Kankarofi of Kogi and CP Patrick Daaor of Edo, on Thursday, August 13, 2026, led a joint patrol to Aguda Village, located along the Okene-Auchi Expressway at the Kogi-Edo boundary.
The patrol was part of ongoing joint clearance operations in the area, which had entered its seventh day. During the exercise, the commissioners inspected security deployments, assessed vulnerable routes and reviewed the readiness of personnel from the two commands and other security agencies.
According to the Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Saliu Oyiza Afusat, the commissioners also visited identified black spots and suspected criminal hideouts within the border forest to evaluate security measures.
She said the operation was designed to improve coordination, intelligence sharing and the joint response of security agencies to threats along the corridor.
Afusat disclosed that the operation had already achieved a significant result with the rescue of nine kidnapped victims abducted along the Mameramo-Adomu Road on August 11.
The rescue operation involved personnel from 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 personnel from Kogi and Edo.
The victims were evacuated, debriefed and later reunited with their families.
The two commissioners also met with residents of the border community, who shared concerns about security challenges in the area.
Afusat said the issues raised by the residents were documented, adding that measures would continue to be taken under the community policing initiative of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu.
The two commands reaffirmed their commitment to sustained cooperation, intelligence sharing and coordinated operations to prevent criminals from using the state boundary as a safe haven.
They also pledged to strengthen security along the Okene-Auchi corridor and protect residents, travellers and other road users from criminal attacks.
