Kogi, Edo Police Strengthen Security Collaboration, Conduct Joint Patrol

The Commissioners of Police in Kogi and Edo states, Naziru Bello Kankarofi and Patrick Daaor, yesterday conducted a joint patrol at Oguda Village, along the Okene-Auchi Expressway, at the Kogi-Edo boundary as part of efforts to strengthen interstate security collaboration.

According to Kogi State PPRO, ASP Afusat Oyiza Salihu, the exercise, which also had in attendance the chairman of Okene local government area, Hon Enesi Ahmed Nuhu, and other security stakeholders, focused on assessing the ongoing joint clearance operations along the corridor.

The operations, which have lasted seven days, involve personnel from both police commands and other security agencies. The commissioners inspected operational deployments, vulnerable routes and the readiness of personnel to respond to security threats along the border.

The police chiefs also proceeded into identified black spots and hideouts within the border forest between the two states to assess security deployments and identify areas requiring further operational attention.

According to the Kogi State Police Command, the joint operations have already yielded significant results with the rescue of nine kidnapped victims abducted along the Mameramo-Adomu Road on August 11, 2026.

The victims were rescued through an intelligence-led operation involving the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Lugard, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), local vigilantes and other auxiliary security forces from Kogi and Edo states.

The rescued victims were safely evacuated, debriefed and reunited with their families.

The two commissioners also interacted with members of the border community, who raised concerns over security challenges affecting the area.

The command said the concerns were noted, with assurances that appropriate measures would continue to be implemented in line with the community policing initiative of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu.

The joint engagement, the command said, reaffirmed the commitment of the Kogi and Edo police commands to sustained collaboration, timely intelligence sharing and coordinated operations.

It added that the strategy was aimed at denying criminal elements access to safe havens, preventing them from exploiting the boundary between the two states and ensuring the safety of residents, travellers and other road users along the Okene-Auchi corridor.