***Commissions VCRU Headquarters, Deploys 565 Tactical Officers, Armoured Vehicles
Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, has declared total war on kidnappers, bandits and other violent criminals, vowing to smoke them out from every part of the state.
The governor made the declaration on Friday during the inauguration of the headquarters of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) of the Nigeria Police Force and the induction of 565 specially trained officers in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital.
Represented by his deputy, Joel Oyibo Salifu, Ododo said the protection of lives and property remains a top priority of his administration, stressing that the establishment of the specialised tactical unit is aimed at strengthening the state’s fight against violent crimes.
He said the state-of-the-art facility, fully funded by the Kogi State Government, was constructed in recognition of the strategic role of the unit in tackling kidnapping, armed banditry, highway attacks and other security threats.
According to him, the project, which commenced in March 2024, will be officially handed over to the Nigeria Police Force for the benefit of the people of Kogi State.
The governor disclosed that the facility comprises 10 fully equipped offices, four standard detention cells, a conference room, a control room and uninterrupted power supply to guarantee round-the-clock operations.
To enhance the operational capacity of the unit, Ododo said his administration also provided four Toyota Hilux patrol vehicles, three Toyota Sienna vehicles and a Bullet-Proof Buffalo Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC).
He commended President Bola Tinubu for his commitment to strengthening the nation’s security architecture through improved welfare and logistics support for security agencies.
Ododo also pledged continued support for the Nigeria Police Force in line with the vision of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, assuring that more operational vehicles and logistics would be provided to enable the unit extend its reach across the 21 local government areas of the state.
“Our administration has continued to invest heavily in security through the provision of operational vehicles, communication gadgets, renovation of police stations, welfare support for officers, repair of Armoured Personnel Carriers and patrol vehicles, as well as the establishment of this Violent Crime Response Unit,” he said.
The governor charged officers of the new unit to serve with integrity, respond swiftly to distress calls and protect citizens with courage and professionalism.
Earlier, the Commissioner of Police in Kogi State, CP Naziru Abdulkarim Kankarofi, said the establishment of the VCRU was in line with the reform-driven policing agenda of the Inspector-General of Police aimed at promoting intelligence-led operations and rapid response to violent crimes.
He noted that emerging security challenges such as kidnapping, armed banditry and highway attacks require specialised tactical formations capable of swift intervention and coordinated operations.
“The VCRU is designed to respond rapidly to violent incidents, conduct intelligence-driven operations, disrupt criminal networks, strengthen surveillance and improve public confidence in law enforcement,” he said.
Kankarofi disclosed that officers selected for the unit underwent rigorous screening, vetting and professional assessment to ensure only competent and disciplined personnel were recruited.
He urged members of the squad to justify the confidence reposed in them by maintaining the highest standards of discipline, integrity and professionalism.
“The use of force must always be lawful, proportionate and guided by established rules of engagement. You must serve the people with courage and respect for human rights,” the police commissioner warned.
