Kogi Govt Denies Paying Ransom, Says Security Forces Rescued Kidnap Victims
Kogi State Government has denied negotiating with kidnappers in a recent abduction case, insisting that security operatives rescued the victims through a gun battle that claimed two lives.
Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, made the clarification on Tuesday during an interview on Channels Television’s Morning Brief.
He dismissed claims that ransom was paid or that the victims were released by the abductors, describing the rescue as a direct military operation carried out by security forces.
When asked if ransom was involved, Fanwo said the state would never bow to criminals. “In Kogi State, we don’t negotiate with kidnappers and criminals. The government said it’s not going to bow to any criminal. We have the capacity to take them out. We have the capacity to deal with the situation,” he added.
He explained that the rescue involved an intense exchange of gunfire between the kidnappers and security operatives, during which the state lost two people.
“We regret the fact that in the fire exchange between the kidnappers and our military and security agencies, we lost two people,” Fanwo stated.
Fanwo added that criminals are aware that Kogi is hostile territory for kidnap operations. “I think a lot of them, too, knew that Kogi is a no-go area for them,” he said. Reiterating the government’s stance, he insisted the state would never negotiate with criminals and will deploy all security resources to deal with them.
The commissioner said the government will continue to strengthen its security apparatus to ensure rapid response to threats across the state.
Recall that troops of the 12 Brigade, Nigerian Army, recently rescued six kidnapped victims from bandits in the Ejiba and Saminaka forests in Yagba East Local Government Area.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
