Kogi Police Unveil Violent Crime Response Unit to Tackle Kidnapping, Armed Robbery, Other Crimes

The Kogi State Police Command has taken a bold step in the fight against violent crime with the inauguration of the **Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU)** — a newly established elite tactical unit designed to swiftly and decisively confront serious security threats across the state.

The VCRU is a restructured and upgraded version of the former Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) units, created on the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu.

The Kogi State Police Command's Commissioner of Police, Mr. Nasir Kankarofi, presided over the event at the Police Headquarters in Lokoja. He announced that officers who distinguished themselves during a recent training exercise would be absorbed into the newly created VCRU, describing the unit as "an elite corps specialised in rapid response to violent crimes."

The VCRU is specifically designed to respond to crimes such as terrorism, kidnapping, armed robbery, and murder. The unit will operate under strict intelligence-based deployment, with officers undergoing specialised training in tactical operations, human rights compliance, and rules of engagement.

The rigorous training programme was approved by the Inspector-General of Police and delivered to produce agile, smart, and combat-ready officers to tackle crime, banditry, terrorism, and other vices across the state.

Addressing officers and stakeholders, Commissioner Kankarofi urged personnel to remain dedicated, respect human rights, and practise community-driven, democratic policing.

Speaking on the broader national mandate behind the unit, the IGP described the move as a landmark reform in the operational structure of the Nigeria Police Force, saying: "We have reconstituted and remodelled our state-level anti-crime capacity. The Special Weapons and Tactics units have been reorganized and elevated into a new formation: the Violent Crime Response Unit — the VCRU."

The IGP was emphatic that the development was not cosmetic. "This is not a rebranding exercise. The VCRU represents a fundamental shift in how we approach serious crime in Nigeria," he declared.

Operations of the VCRU will rely strictly on actionable intelligence rather than random or reactive policing. The unit will also be subject to civilian oversight and structured reviews to ensure accountability.

The IGP charged each Commissioner of Police to take full responsibility for the discipline, conduct, and results of the VCRU in their states, adding: "I am directing all Commissioners to formally launch their State VCRU with full visibility, with community stakeholders, traditional and religious leaders, and the press in attendance."

The Commissioner also urged the public to support security agencies with timely intelligence and reaffirmed the Command's commitment to safer streets and secure communities under the leadership of the IGP and President Bola Tinubu.

"The days of the criminal are numbered. These young, able-bodied constables are ready to take the war to the criminals, as we have always done," Kankarofi stated.