Governor Ododo links Kogi’s security gains to KSM’s humanitarian mission.

Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, has commended the launch of the KSM Nigeria Endowment Fund and Integrated Charity Initiative, describing it as a humanitarian intervention that aligns with his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and restoring dignity to victims of violence.

Speaking through the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Folashade Arike Ayoade, at the unveiling of the fund in Abuja on Thursday, Governor Ododo said the mission of the Knights of Saint Mulumba shares the same moral foundation as his administration’s security agenda. He stressed that every act of kidnapping, banditry, or terrorism leaves families devastated, making support for victims a vital responsibility.
The governor revealed that Kogi State had recorded significant security successes since he assumed office in January 2024. He said the state integrated 2,752 vigilantes into a structured security framework, equipped more than 1,050 hunters across the 21 local government areas, established a Quick Response Unit, procured 50 armoured patrol vehicles, deployed combat drones, and partnered with the Nigerian Army to establish the 21 Battalion Barracks in Anyigba.
Governor Ododo disclosed that in February, security forces neutralised Kachalla Kabiru, whom he described as the coordinator of banditry and kidnappings across Kogi, Kwara, Benue, Enugu, Edo, Ekiti and Ondo states. He added that a joint operation in June also eliminated another notorious kingpin, Kachalla Ibrahim Battijo, alongside more than 15 gang members, while preventing the planned abduction of students writing the West African Senior School Certificate Examination in Iluke community.
He thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving air support for Kogi State’s security operations and for allocating ₦5.41 trillion to defence and security in the 2026 budget, describing it as evidence of the Federal Government’s resolve to tackle terrorism.
Governor Ododo also highlighted his administration’s social intervention programmes, including the rehabilitation of 88 Primary Health Care Centres with a ₦7 billion investment, the launch of the Kogi State Health Insurance Scheme, free education and examination registration for children, and empowerment programmes for widows, orphans and displaced persons through the State Community and Social Development Agency and the World Bank-supported HOPE Programme.
The governor congratulated four Kogi indigenes serving in national leadership positions within the Knights of Saint Mulumba, including the Supreme Knight, Sir Steve Zakari Adehi (SAN), Sir Johnson Jimoh, Lady Agnes Eneji and Sir Dan Okolo. He pledged his administration’s continued support for the Order and its charitable initiatives.
He concluded with a call on faith-based organisations across Nigeria to establish lasting support systems for victims of violence, saying both government and religious institutions have complementary roles in building a compassionate and secure society.
The KSM Endowment Fund, initiated by the Supreme Knight of the Order of the Knights of Saint Mulumba, Sir Steve Adehi (SAN), aims to raise an initial capital base of ₦2 billion. The investment income from the fund will be used to finance its seven charity pillars. The initiative was unveiled in the presence of prominent Nigerians, including representatives of the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.