The Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello has approved the appointment of Elder Friday Sanni as the Director General of the Special TaskForce on Illegal Smuggling of Firearms to Kogi State.
The appointment was conveyed via a letter signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Mrs Folashade Arike Ayoade, dated 8th May 2023.
According to a press statement issued on Tuesday by the Hon. Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo said the decision of the State Government to set up the Special Task Force is part of recalibration efforts in the security architecture of the state to ensure that firearms are not illegally smuggled into the state to perpetrate the nefarious activities of criminal elements.
He noted that the government was committed to ensuring criminality is reduced to near-zero levels in the state.
“We recognise an increase in the proliferation of arms in the state and we cannot afford a situation where firearms are in the hands of people who are neither licensed nor trained to handle them.
“The Taskforce will also afford those already in possession of firearms illegally to submit them voluntarily,” the statement added.