Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has ordered the immediate closure of all brothels harbouring criminals in the state.
Bellnews Online reports that Governor Bello also banned wearing facemasks in public places, for proper identification.
Bello announced the decision on Tuesday when he held a crucial strategic security meeting with all First Class traditional rulers, the Commissioner of Police, Kogi State Command and the 21 Local Government Chairmen at the Glass House, Luguard House, Lokoja, Kogi State.
The meeting also had in attendance, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and the State Security Adviser.
Since the start of the year, the Islamic State in West African Province (ISWAP) has claimed responsibility for multiple terrorist attacks recorded in Kogi State.
Although there is a high level of insecurity in Kogi, where bandits and kidnappers have been operating in recent months, the state is not known for ISWAP attacks, as the sect operates mainly in the North East.
Not long ago, Jihad Analytics, a consultancy company that processes data on global and cyber jihad, said Nigeria now has the highest number of attacks by the Islamic State (IS).
According to the report, half of the attacks claimed by IS since the beginning of 2022 were in Africa, while ISWAP, an affiliate of IS, is now more active in Nigeria.
Data by Jihad Analytics showed that while Nigeria has recorded a total of 162 IS operations since January 2022, Iraq has recorded 120.
“For the first time in the history of the jihadi group, Iraq is no longer the country where #IS claims the highest number of operations: the group #ISWAP is now more active in Nigeria,” it said.
In 2015, the late Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, pledged allegiance to IS, whose fighters killed him six years after.