Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
LOKOJA, Nigeria — Families of three vigilante operatives killed in the line of duty in Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State have accused both the state and local government authorities of abandonment, saying they have received little to no support nearly a year after the tragic deaths of their loved ones.
Relatives of the deceased, speaking through a family source on condition of anonymity, said the authorities have “forgotten” the sacrifice made by the three men who were serving their communities as local security volunteers. According to the family source, the bereaved relatives have been struggling with emotional trauma and economic hardship due to the lack of institutional assistance.
The first fatality occurred on August 9, 2025, when Moses Irojah, a vigilante operative, died from injuries he sustained in an accident while on active duty. Irojah was reported to have suffered severe trauma and was unable to survive despite efforts to save him. The family described the loss as deeply painful and said they were hoping for recognition and some form of support from government authorities in the months since.
In a separate incident about a month later, on September 10, 2025, two other vigilantes — Samuel Kayode and Francis Adodo — were killed during an ambush along the Egbe–Eruku Road while manning a community security checkpoint. The operatives were attacked while performing duties aimed at curbing criminal activities in the area, according to the family source.
The bereaved families said that despite repeated appeals to both the Yagba West Local Government Council and the Kogi State Government, no significant assistance, compensation, or formal acknowledgement of the operatives’ sacrifices has been forthcoming. According to the relatives, this lack of response has compounded the pain of losing loved ones and has left families in precarious economic conditions, as many of the vigilantes were breadwinners.
“These men died protecting our communities,” the family source said. “Yet we are left to suffer without any recognition or support. We expected something — financial assistance, support for schooling, or at least an official statement. But nothing has come.”
The allegations of neglect emerged amid broader concerns about the welfare of vigilante groups across parts of Nigeria. Local vigilante organisations often operate in cooperation with formal security agencies, particularly in rural areas where police presence is limited. They play roles in community watch, highway patrols, and early warning systems. While not formally integrated into state security structures, they are widely seen as crucial in areas with persistent security challenges.
Security analysts note that the deaths of volunteer operatives underscore the risks faced by civilians involved in auxiliary security efforts, often without the protection, training or formal support systems provided to personnel in official security agencies. Such incidents have previously sparked debates about the need for clearer frameworks governing the training, deployment and welfare of community security volunteers.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the Kogi State Government nor officials of the Yagba West Local Government Council had issued public statements addressing the families’ allegations or commenting on the matter. Attempts to reach local government officials for comment were unsuccessful.
The incidents also occur against the backdrop of ongoing security concerns in parts of Kogi State, where community leaders and residents have expressed frustration over persistent criminality, including armed robbery, kidnapping and highway attacks. Local vigilante groups have become an informal first line of defence in many communities, though their capabilities and protections remain limited when compared with formal security forces.
The bereaved families urged authorities to intervene, provide compensation and support, and honour the memory of the vigilantes who lost their lives in service to their communities. They also called on civil society groups and human rights organisations to help amplify their plight and push for concrete action.
The emotional toll of the losses remains palpable for relatives who said they continue to struggle with the absence of both social recognition and practical support nearly twelve months after the deaths.
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