Residents of Kogi West Senatorial District in Kogi State are facing a severe security crisis characterized by frequent bandit attacks, kidnappings, and massacres, forcing many to abandon their homes and farms amid accusations of government neglect and a dire lack of infrastructure that hampers security responses.
Residents of Kogi West Senatorial District, the Yoruba-speaking area of Kogi State, are living in perpetual fear as bandits have placed the zone under a state of siege. The agrarian communities, spanning seven Local Government Areas, are witnessing daily attacks, leading to widespread abandonment of villages and farmlands.
Findings reveal that the bandits, who have reportedly relocated from parts of the North-West and North-Central, now operate from the area’s vast forests. They regularly invade villages, kidnap residents from their homes and farms, and ambush travelers on dilapidated roads. The near-total collapse of infrastructure, particularly the Ilorin-Omuaran-Kabba Highway, is exacerbating the crisis by hindering both escape and security operations.
The situation has reached an alarming peak, with a recent midnight attack in Bareke community, Egbe, leaving at least 27 people dead. The violence has spared no one, claiming the lives of policemen, vigilantes, and civilians alike.
The Okun Development Association (ODA) has repeatedly raised the alarm. Its President-General, Akenson Rotimi, expressed grave concern, stating, “Our people no longer feel safe returning home. Business owners are shutting down, and farmers are afraid to go to their farms. The impact on our socio-economic activities is devastating.”
A resident of Odo-Ere, Mr. Mose Folorunsho, echoed the despair, saying, “We are in trouble here… These people come from the far North to wipe us out… I am planning on relocating my family to Ilorin.”
The President of the Okun Renaissance Union (ORU), Mr. Temitope Bamkefa, warned of a looming catastrophe, noting, “Kogi West is gradually becoming another Benue State… The federal government should act quickly because we have another Benue and Plateau in the making.”
In response, Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo, during a visit to the crisis zone, linked the insecurity to illegal mining activities and announced an immediate ban on all mining in Kogi West. Despite ongoing joint security operations and calls for action from national figures, the attacks continue, leaving communities in a relentless grip of fear.