Senator Sunday Karimi, representing Kogi West in the National Assembly, has praised the Department of State Services (DSS) for its coordinated operations with the Joint Task Force and local vigilante groups aimed at flushing out kidnappers and criminal gangs from his senatorial district.

The commendation comes in the wake of intensified security operations following Karimi’s earlier alarm on the Senate floor about a disturbing spike in kidnappings and suspected politically-driven violence intended to destabilize the region.

While acknowledging recent gains made through these operations, the senator also drew attention to the ongoing captivity of Ajayi Bello, a well-known livestock farmer who was abducted two weeks ago and has yet to be rescued. He urged the security agencies to expedite efforts to ensure Bello’s safe return.

Karimi stressed that actionable intelligence provided by the DSS has significantly boosted the capacity of local vigilante groups, noting that this collaboration has led to the successful disruption of several criminal networks operating across Kogi West.

He also commended the National Security Adviser (NSA) for fostering strategic alignment among various security agencies and community-based vigilante formations. In line with this, the senator called for swift legislative action to establish the proposed national forest guard initiative, which he said would bolster security in hard-to-reach rural terrains.

His remarks echo similar sentiments expressed by Kogi State’s security coordinator, Commodore Jerry Omodara (Rtd.), who recently reaffirmed the government’s resolve to eliminate banditry and kidnappings from forest zones. Omodara confirmed that security strategies are already being implemented to tighten border controls and empower local communities through grassroots intelligence sharing.

Karimi further urged continuous cooperation among all arms of Nigeria’s security architecture, stressing that unified efforts remain vital to restoring lasting peace to the region.

The senator’s position reflects mounting public frustration, following reports of more than 30 abductions in just one week, a development he previously labeled “a coordinated assault on peace.”

“With the DSS intensifying intelligence operations, vigilante units receiving enhanced support, and the Joint Task Force sustaining pressure on criminal enclaves, Kogi West is now witnessing a determined campaign to reclaim its communities and restore public confidence,” Karimi said.