The new Commandant of the Kwara State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Bala Bawa Bodinga, has warned criminals and economic saboteurs to stay away from the state.

Bodinga, who officially resumed duty on Monday as the 15th substantive Kwara State Commandant, declared that the command under his leadership would not tolerate vandalism, destruction of critical national assets, illegal mining, pipeline vandalism, or any other form of criminal activity.

"Kwara State is not and will not be a safe haven for criminals. Those who choose to engage in vandalism or sabotage of government infrastructure will face the full weight of the law," he said.

He added that the command is fully prepared, both operationally and strategically, to deal decisively with offenders.

His deployment to Kwara was approved by the Commandant General of the Corps, Ahmed Abubakar Audi, as part of efforts to strengthen operational effectiveness across state commands.

Bodinga is described as a seasoned officer who has held key operational and administrative roles nationwide. He previously served as State Commandant in Kebbi, Jigawa, and Kano states, where he was credited with enhancing operational efficiency. He also served as National Arm Commander, Special Forces, at the Corps' National Headquarters in Sauka, Abuja.

The new commandant assured law-abiding residents of the Corps' commitment to protecting lives and property, safeguarding critical national infrastructure, and strengthening intelligence-driven operations.

He also pledged to foster collaboration with other security agencies, traditional institutions, community leaders, and stakeholders to enhance peace and security in the state.

The command urged members of the public to remain vigilant and support security agencies with timely and credible information to aid crime prevention efforts.