The Commissioners of Police in Kogi and Edo states, Naziru Bello Kankarofi and Patrick Daaor, on Sunday conducted a joint patrol at Oguda Village along the Okene-Auchi Expressway, located at the boundary between the two states.
The exercise formed part of intensified efforts to strengthen interstate security collaboration and confront criminal activities that exploit the porous border.
According to the Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Afusat Oyiza Salihu, the joint patrol was also attended by the Chairman of Okene Local Government Area, Hon. Enesi Ahmed Nuhu, and other security stakeholders. The focus of the exercise was to assess the ongoing joint clearance operations along the critical corridor linking the two states.
The operations, which have been ongoing for seven days, involve personnel from both the Kogi and Edo Police Commands working alongside other security agencies. During the visit, the two commissioners inspected operational deployments, vulnerable routes, and the overall readiness of personnel to respond swiftly to emerging security threats along the border.
They also moved into identified black spots and hideouts within the border forest between Kogi and Edo states. The purpose was to evaluate existing security deployments and identify areas that require further operational attention to deny criminals free movement and safe havens.
The Kogi State Police Command reported that the joint operations have already produced significant results. On August 11, 2026, nine kidnapped victims who were abducted along the Mameramo-Adomu Road were successfully rescued through an intelligence-led operation.
The rescue involved 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 drawn from both Kogi and Edo states.
The rescued victims were safely evacuated, debriefed, and reunited with their families.
During the engagement, the two police commissioners interacted with members of the border community. Residents raised concerns about the security challenges affecting the area. The command noted the issues raised and gave 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 reaffirmed the commitment of the Kogi and Edo Police Commands to sustained collaboration, timely intelligence sharing, and coordinated operations. The strategy is deliberately designed to prevent criminal elements from exploiting the boundary between the two states as a safe haven, while ensuring the safety of residents, travellers, and other road users along the Okene-Auchi corridor.
Security analysts view the joint patrol as a practical demonstration of inter-state cooperation aimed at closing security gaps that criminals have historically exploited along state boundaries. By combining resources, intelligence, and operational capacity, both commands hope to maintain pressure on criminal networks and restore greater confidence among communities living along the shared border.
