Kogi West Senator, Sunday Karimi, has said the synergy between the Department of State Services, DSS, and the Joint Task Force has been instrumental in the recent decimation of criminal networks operating in Kogi West.

Karimi commended the DSS for partnering the JTF and vigilantes to rid his senatorial district of kidnappers and criminal elements.

Addressing newsmen in Abuja, the lawmaker said the rise in kidnappings was possibly politically motivated criminality to destabilize his zone.

But the lawmaker said the sustained operations are essential to “achieving lasting security,” stressing that the “effectiveness of vigilantes rest on actionable intelligence provided by the DSS”.

He commended the efforts of the National Security Adviser, NSA, Nuhu Ribadu in “ensuring strategic synergy between the security organisations and local vigilantes nationwide”.

He also called for a legislation that would lead to the formation of forest guards as planned by President Bola Tinubu.

The senator also reiterated his call for continued cooperation among all security agencies, underscoring the need for a unified approach to safeguard Kogi West.

Karimi’s remarks align with recent statements from Kogi State’s security leadership, including Special Adviser on Security to the governor, Commodore Jerry Omodara (Rtd.), who has vowed to root out banditry and kidnapping from the state’s forests.

Omodara harped on strategic measures to fortify border security and enhance community-based vigilance, while urging residents to support local security efforts with timely intelligence.

His advocacy reflects growing public demand for decisive action, following reports of over 30 abductions in the district within a single week, a crisis he previously described as a “coordinated assault on peace”.

Kwara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has warned members and supporters of the party not to associate with the coalition movement in the state.

A statement by secretary of the party, Abdulrahman Abdullahi Kayode, in Ilorin on Tuesday, disclosed that the party is aware of “attempts by certain individuals and political actors to lure our members and supporters into the newly formed coalition movement”.

“We wish to categorically state that the PDP, particularly in Kwara State under the leadership of Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has no affiliation whatsoever with the coalition being spearheaded by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar or any other group outside the established structure of our great party,” the statement stressed.

The party urged its members and supporters across the state to remain vigilant and not be deceived or misled by the antics of “stranded and unpopular” politicians who, having deserted the party, are now seeking relevance by falsely using Saraki’s name to win support for their new political adventure.

“These individuals had either left or were irrelevant within the party during the September 2024 local government elections, yet despite their absence, our party triumphed at the polls, a testament to the unwavering support we continue to enjoy from the people of Kwara State, regardless of the manipulation of results by the ruling party.

“If they are truly confident in their popularity and acceptance among the people, they should campaign based on their own track records and not hide behind the name and legacy of our leader,” the party declared.

The statement asserted that Saraki remains a proud and committed member of the PDP and is actively involved in efforts to reposition and unify the party in preparation for a successful outing in the 2027 general elections.

“The PDP in Kwara remains united, focused, and loyal to its ideals. We advise all our members to disregard any invitation or pressure to join the so-called coalition and remain steadfast under the banner of the PDP,” it added.

Owolabi Salis, a politician and lawyer, has become the first Nigerian to travel to space.

Salis was aboard the Blue Origin’s NS-33 mission, which took off from West Texas on Sunday, June 29.

The 10-minute flight, which crossed the Kármán line also had Carl Kuehner, Jim Sitkin, Leland Larson, Freddie Rescigno Jr., and Allie Kuehner on board.

It reached a peak altitude of 105.2 kilometres.

Salis, before embarking on the trip, said that the mission was “more than just a trip into space”.

He described it as a “spiritual journey, a call to inspire future generations”.

Salis has previously entered the history books as the first Black African to travel to both the Arctic and Antarctic in the same season.