Kogi settles victims of criminal hideout demolition, Works on Airport , Ajaokuta Payouts

The Kogi State Government has paid compensation to victims of the recent house demolition exercise at Idojie-Okene in Okene Local Government Area of the state . The demolitions were carried out as part of efforts to destroy criminal hideouts and restore peace in the area. Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo presented the cheque to the affected […]

The Kogi State Government has paid compensation to victims of the recent house demolition exercise at Idojie-Okene in Okene Local Government Area of the state .

The demolitions were carried out as part of efforts to destroy criminal hideouts and restore peace in the area.

Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo presented the cheque to the affected shop owners/ occupiers in a brief ceremony in Lokoja on Wednesday.

The governor who was represented by the Director General Bureau of Lands, Kehinde Augustine Salihu-Otaru said the move was aimed at restoring the livelihoods of the affected people to continue their lawful business .

He said the state government on 15th January 2026 demolished the structure in the area used by hoodlums to feather the nest of their criminal activities,which was raising concern in the community and the state in general.

The government noted that after due evaluation , it discovered that the demotion exercise affected some residents who were doing their lawful business in the community.

Against this backdrop, the government said it has therefore decided to compensate the affected traders for them to continue with their lawful business in the area.

“On 15th January 2026, the state government, supervised by the governor himself demolished the structure at Idojie-Okene( popularly known as Sambell area) that is notorious for criminal activities, and endangering the lives of the inhabitants of the community.

“In the review that followed, the government noted that the exercise affected some residents who were on their lawful business in the community.

“The case was referred to the Bureau of Lands for review, and today ,we are presenting cheques to compensate the victims for them to continue with their means of livelihoods”, said Salihu-Otaru.

He said the compensation is a quick relief for the victims in order to ensure financial leverage for them to survive, move on with their business and lives in the community.

While Salihu-Otaru said the review certified 23 shop occupiers for the compensation, he noted that the amount given out to the beneficiaries will be shared in the proportion of 70 to 30 percent to cover the demolished shops and the goods involved .

The governor added that his administration listens and addresses genuine complaints, urging the beneficiaries to make good use of the compensation to relive their business and conduct themselves properly while carrying out their lawful business in the community.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Alhaji Aliyu Asuku Bello Sambell commended governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for solving the challenge posed by the demolition exercise carried out in their area few months back .

He said the governor was so magnanimous to release the sum of N350,000 to them initially to cushion their condition when they cried out over their predicament, pending the final solution.

“We thank governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for show of humanity; we will ensure a proper use of this money to relive our means of livelihoods, and bounce back to life”, he said .

However, the Director General Bureau of Lands noted that the compensation for those whose land had been acquired for Air port project at Zariagi-Lokoja and Ajaokuta free trade zone is ongoing, with seriousness its deserved.

While Salihu-Otaru said the government is through with the necessary frame works , he attributed the delay to the volume of people involved , stressing that the government is determined not to temper with the livelihoods of its citizens without due compensation.

“We are working on three types of compensations currently: payment for Land acquired for Airport project , Ajaokuta free trade zone and that of Idojie-Okene demolition exercise, which has been settled today”, he said .

Meanwhile, he commended governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for creating enabling environment for the agency to carry out the assignment without hiccups associated with such assignments .