Governor Usman Ododo of Kogi State has warned criminals to stay away from the state.

Speaking at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja, he identified the influx of criminals from other states as the cause of the insecurity in the state.

The governor, who expressed concern over the inability of the citizenry to harness the agricultural and mineral resources across the state, stated that the situation was compounded by the fact that Kogi State is bordered by 10 states.

The governor, who was at the All Progressives Congress (APC) secretariat in Abuja to express gratitude to the Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the party over their support for his administration, said Kogi State was no longer a fertile land for men of the underworld.

“We have signed to protect the lives and livelihoods of our people. And as such, that is what we are doing in Kogi State,” the governor said.

The governor, who assured President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the unflinching support of Kogi State on his reelection in the 2027 elections, ruled out the possibility of a face-off between him and his predecessor, Yahaya Bello.