Save Kogi East from the grip of bandits
Kogi East, comprising nine local government areas of Kogi State, is bleeding under a relentless reign of terror by bandits. These criminals operate with near impunity—infesting forests, farms, rural villages, and towns, slaughtering innocent men and women with brutal savagery. They kidnap, extort hefty ransoms, then butcher their victims regardless of payment. Residents are left […]
Kogi East, comprising nine local government areas of Kogi State, is bleeding under a relentless reign of terror by bandits. These criminals operate with near impunity—infesting forests, farms, rural villages, and towns, slaughtering innocent men and women with brutal savagery. They kidnap, extort hefty ransoms, then butcher their victims regardless of payment. Residents are left abandoned, crying out while security forces—the responsibility of both federal and state governments—remain conspicuously absent or indifferent.
This distressing reality is often omitted from mainstream media, appearing only sporadically on social platforms through raw, horrifying images of the atrocities.
The bandits’ motives and justifications remain unclear, though their impact is undeniable. Initially, Omala Local Government Area bore the brunt. Sharing borders with Benue State’s Agatu people—who have long been embroiled in conflicts with Fulani herders—Omala became a refuge for fleeing bandits. Instead of seeking peace, these marauders turned their weapons on Omala’s communities: razing villages, burning homes, killing humans and livestock, and forcibly taking control of vast areas. Thousands have been displaced, becoming refugees elsewhere in Igala land. Those daring to return to their farms have been met with destruction or death.
The wider Kogi East is now engulfed in this crisis. Bandits have spread beyond Omala into Dekina, Ofu, Igala-Mela, Olamaboro, Ankpa, parts of Bassa, and Idah.
The geographic location of Kogi East worsens its plight. It borders three states—Nasarawa, Benue, and Niger—that also battle banditry but enforce stronger security measures, pushing marauders into Kogi East’s vulnerable rural expanses. In contrast to their neighbours, Kogi East suffers from a lax or ineffective security presence. Victims of abduction are left to their fate, with families forced to pay ransoms they can ill afford.
In Benue State, for example, Governor Hyacinth Alia has ordered the establishment of tactical military commands, offering visible resistance to bandits. Kogi East lacks this robust defense. The small detachments stationed along federal roads cannot muster rapid responses to attacks deep in rural areas, leaving communities exposed. The recent patrolling by Nigeria Army’s 12 Brigade based in Lokoja provides fleeting hope but is inadequate for the vast expanse of Kogi East—about 14,000 square miles.
The Kogi State Government cannot afford to ignore the suffering in Kogi East. Political bitterness that surfaced during the 2023 elections must not justify neglecting this humanitarian crisis. In April 2024, the state inaugurated the Metropolitan Quick Response Team (QRT), armed with advanced weaponry, tasked with safeguarding lives and property. Governor Usman Ododo pledged total commitment to security across the state. However, the team’s impact remains largely confined to the protection of political elites and high-profile assignments, leaving the rural heartlands vulnerable to deadly marauders.
In recent weeks the forces of the 12 Brigade of the Nigeria Army, which is located at Lokoja, have patrolled parts of Kogi East. Their patrol has provided a glimmer of hope, but they need men and firepower on ground in the territory to deploy to vast communities in Kogi East. There is need for about three or four military bases in Kogi East and heavily equipped soldiers at the bases, considering the size of Kogi East. In terms of landmass, the territory is about 14,000 square miles, more than a half of the landmass of Kogi State.
Also, recently, the Kogi State Police Commissioner, Miller Dantawaye, pledged reinforced protection for Ajokpachi Odo and neighboring villages of Omala Local Government, which have suffered from forced displacement and arson attacks by bandits originating from Benue. However, tangible government support for displaced farmers or decisive military actions to reclaim occupied territories remain lacking.
Kogi East’s residents deserve protection, dignity, and peace. The state government must move decisively to deploy adequate security forces, develop intelligence infrastructure, and support displaced populations. The federal military should expand presence and coordination on the ground, establishing forward operating bases across the senatorial district. Transparency with the media and community engagement will build trust and gather crucial information vital to security operations. Political rivalries must yield to humanity’s call—saving Kogi East from bandits’ grip is a collective responsibility, foundational for the state’s stability and prosperity.
Dr Theophilus Abbah is based in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory