Puff Adder: IGP inaugurates 340 special squads deployed to Kogi
Following the upsurge of activities of armed bandits, kidnappers, cattle rustlers, social miscreants and hoodlums in the country, the Acting Inspector General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu, on Monday inaugurated the 340 special squad tagged: “Operation Puff Adder” deployed to Kogi State.
The squad, according to the Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Mr Hakeem Busari comprises units from Police Mobile Force (PMF), Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), IGP Special Tactical Squad (STS), Explosive Ordinance Department (EOD), Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) and IGP Intelligence Response Team (IRT). The special squad who are charged with the responsibility of identifying all criminals syndicates, their leaders/foot soldiers, identify kidnappers safe haven according to the CP involves: massive deployment of well trained, equipped and motivated personnel geared towards riding Kogi State especially Lokoja-Abuja expressway, Lokoja-Okene highway, Lokoja-Obajana road, Lokoja-Ajaokuta road, Obajana-Kabba, Okene-Auchi road, Ajaokuta-Itobe-Ayingba-Ankpa roads, Bagana and Ogba community village all in Omala Local Government and Bassa Local Government of all all forms of crimes and criminality. The deployed personnel, according to CP Busari, are already leaving no stone un-turned in riding Kogi State from criminal activities as the command used the occasion to parade 10 criminal suspects arrested in their various hideouts in the state.
Speaking at the inauguration, the Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello pledged his unalloyed support for the squad towards achieving a crime-free society. The Governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Folashade Arike Ayoade, wanted those sponsoring men of the under world to leave the nooks and cranny of the State. As many that are sponsoring in security in Kogi State you are in for trouble. We as a government want to leave a legacy of strong security. If you are there sponsoring people for kidnapping, robbery, thuggery and you are keeping your children elsewhere you are in for trouble. It is better you pack your load now,” he said. In the same vein, the AIG Zone 8 Lokoja, AIG Moses Abakina Jitibo, while giving an insight on the Squad “Operation Puff Adder”, vowed to flush out all criminals who intend to disrupt the peace of the state.