Reported By Mary Udezue | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
A growing wave of insecurity in Kogi State has taken a new and distressing turn after armed bandits reportedly invaded the Okunran community, abducting a local man in broad daylight, amid escalating fears and repeated attacks across the region. The latest incident has compounded concerns about the safety of residents in the state’s Okunland and Yagba West districts, which have been repeatedly targeted by criminal gangs in recent months.
According to residents, the attackers stormed Okunran, a community near the border with neighbouring Kwara State, catching locals off guard and whisking away an unidentified man before retreating into the surrounding forest. Eyewitness accounts describe a pattern of violence in which marauding bandits operate with increasing boldness along rural roads and in isolated settlements, often overwhelming minimal local security presence and prompting widespread alarm among citizens.
The abduction in Okunran is the latest in a disturbing sequence of security breaches that have seen villagers flee their homes and communities. In nearby localities, residents have been forced to relocate to safer areas amid repeated gun attacks, kidnappings, and threats to life and property. Many towns and villages along the border corridors, including Egbe, Okoloke, and other settlements that share boundaries with Kwara and Niger states, have suffered sustained criminal pressure, disrupting farming, commerce, and daily life.
Local sentiment paints a grim picture of fear and fatigue as families grapple with the reality of attacks that have become alarmingly regular. Several communities have organised prayer sessions and local security watches, but in the absence of an immediate and lasting security response, disillusionment persists. Many residents say they now avoid night travel and remain indoors after dusk to reduce the risk of abduction or assault.
The pattern of insecurity in Kogi is not limited to isolated kidnappings. Over recent months, bandits and criminal elements have engaged in highway ambushes, community raids, and violent confrontations with security forces, heightening the sense of vulnerability among citizens and commuters alike. In some recorded cases, travellers on major roads have been ambushed and abducted by groups believed to be operating from forest hideouts or bases within porous border zones.
The Yagba West Local Government Area, which encompasses Okunran and surrounding communities, has been a focal point of insecurity due to its proximity to expansive forests and poorly defined state boundaries, which facilitate unfettered movement by armed groups. Previous incidents in the area have included attacks on checkpoints, kidnappings of traditional leaders, and violent confrontations between bandits and security personnel.
Local traditional institutions and socio-cultural groups have repeatedly raised alarms, calling on government authorities and security agencies to redouble efforts to protect civilians and restore a semblance of normalcy. The Okun Development Association (ODA) and other community leaders have stressed the urgency of strengthening patrols, enhancing intelligence-gathering and community policing, and addressing longstanding socio-economic grievances that they say have been exploited by criminal elements.
In response to recurring insecurity, the Kogi State Government has taken steps to confront kidnappers and suspected bandits. Joint operations with security agencies have resulted in the arrest of suspected informants and collaborators accused of aiding criminal networks. These arrests are part of ongoing efforts to dismantle the support structures that enable bandits to operate with relative impunity in some parts of the state.
Security forces have also been active in counter-banditry operations, with army brigades conducting patrols and rescue missions across vulnerable areas. In a recent operation, troops were credited with rescuing several kidnapping victims held by armed groups in forested areas of the state, underscoring the persistent challenge of confronting mobile and entrenched criminal networks.
Despite these actions, residents report that insecurity continues to thrive, particularly in hinterland communities where road networks are poor and official presence remains thin. The recurring kidnappings, attacks and fear have not only unsettled local populations but have also discouraged economic activity, with farmers afraid to tend their fields and traders reluctant to transport goods through high-risk corridors.
Security analysts say the situation in Kogi reflects a broader trend of criminal violence spreading beyond traditional hotspots in the northwest and northeast of Nigeria, citing factors such as expanding forest bases, ease of movement across state borders, and economic disenfranchisement. They argue that an effective response will require sustained community engagement, improved intelligence sharing, and a comprehensive strategy that integrates both security operations and socio-economic interventions.
For now, the abduction of a man in Okunran serves as a stark reminder of the pervasive sense of insecurity affecting many parts of Nigeria’s central states, underscoring the urgent need for collaborative efforts between communities and authorities to safeguard lives and stem the rising tide of violence.
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