Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Two civil society organisations have launched a scathing attack on former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, accusing him of presiding over eight years of widespread insecurity, political violence, and unresolved killings, and demanding an independent investigation into his administration's security record. The Community Outreach for Development and Welfare Advocacy (CODWA) and African Transparent Initiatives (ATI) issued a joint statement on Saturday, August 1, 2026, in which they insisted that Bello lacks the moral authority to comment on national security issues, following reports that he recently met with the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and praised President Bola Tinubu's administration for improvements in the country's security situation.
The organisations expressed dismay that Bello, whom they accused of bearing direct responsibility for the deterioration of security in Kogi State during his tenure from January 2016 to January 2024, was attempting to rebrand himself as a credible voice on security matters. According to the statement signed by CODWA Executive Director, Comrade Taiwo Otitolaye, and ATI Country Director (Nigeria), Shina Loremikan, Bello inherited a fragile security architecture but amplified it to a catastrophic level, leaving communities across the state grappling with the consequences of what they described as "state-enabled lawlessness." The groups alleged that under Bello's watch, Kogi State experienced unprecedented attacks, kidnappings, and communal clashes, and that instead of deploying state resources to protect lives and property, his administration politicised security and failed to hold perpetrators of violent crimes accountable.
The civil society organisations also levelled a more serious allegation, claiming that Bello's government assembled and financed armed gangs that terrorised communities across the state, thereby creating a culture of impunity where violence became a tool of political control. "CODWA and ATI are deeply concerned by documented allegations that the Bello administration assembled and financed armed gangs that terrorized Kogi communities. This created a culture of impunity where violence became a tool of political control," the statement read. The groups warned that when state resources are deployed to aid insecurity, it becomes the very route of state gangsterism to destroy the economic system and dehumanise the people, leaving the state still grappling with the consequences.
The groups referenced specific incidents to support their claims, including the 2019 killing of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Women Leader, Salome Abuh, who was set ablaze in her home after the Kogi governorship election. They described the incident as one of the darkest moments in the state's history and insisted that justice for the victim remains unresolved. They also revisited the 2021 visit of Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi to Kogi State, alleging that insecurity escalated in Kogi West Senatorial District afterwards. Additionally, they criticised alleged directives encouraging Fulani groups to settle in parts of the state, saying the actions heightened tensions and weakened traditional institutions.
The groups called on the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Inspector-General of Police, and other relevant authorities to launch a public investigation into allegations of politically motivated violence and unresolved killings during Bello's administration. They insisted that victims and affected communities deserve justice rather than attempts to rewrite the state's recent history. "While we commend any effort to support national security, we are compelled to set the record straight. Mr. Bello cannot and must not be allowed to rebrand himself as a voice on security when he bears direct responsibility for the deterioration of security in Kogi State during his eight years as Governor," the statement declared.
Bello's recent meeting with the National Security Adviser, where he reportedly commended President Tinubu's efforts in tackling insecurity, appears to have been the immediate trigger for the groups' statement. Reports indicated that Bello praised the National Security Adviser for providing strategic leadership and fostering stronger collaboration among security agencies. However, the civil society organisations argued that such commendations ring hollow given the security situation that prevailed throughout his tenure as governor. The groups maintained that Bello's administration should instead be subjected to public scrutiny over allegations of insecurity, political violence, and unresolved killings that occurred during his time in office.
The allegations against Bello come amid ongoing legal battles, as the former governor is currently standing trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja on a 19-count charge bordering on money laundering and misappropriation of N80.2 billion. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Bello alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu on charges of criminal breach of trust and money laundering involving N110.4 billion. Bello has consistently denied any wrongdoing, with his legal team arguing that the trial is politically motivated. However, the EFCC has insisted that the case is based on substantial evidence, including witness testimony detailing how large sums were allegedly withdrawn from state accounts during Bello's tenure.
Beyond the corruption charges, Bello's political ambitions have also drawn scrutiny. He has declared interest in contesting for the Kogi Central Senate seat in the 2027 elections, a move that has been met with resistance from various groups who have raised concerns about his integrity and security record. In May 2026, a group of stakeholders urged President Tinubu to rein in Bello over his senatorial ambition, citing rising political tension, spate of viral violence, and insecurity arising from his public declaration. The stakeholders noted that since his declaration of interest, the ex-governor had allegedly issued threats, boasted openly of financial power, and suggested that the forthcoming election would be different from previous ones.
The latest demand for a probe into Bello's security legacy adds to the growing chorus of criticism against the former governor, who once styled himself as the "White Lion" of Kogi politics. While Bello has not publicly responded to the latest allegations contained in the statement from CODWA and ATI, his supporters have previously dismissed similar criticisms as politically motivated attacks aimed at undermining his influence and tarnishing his legacy. However, the civil society organisations have made it clear that they will not allow what they described as attempts to rewrite history, insisting that the people of Kogi State deserve answers and justice for the violence and insecurity that marked Bello's eight-year rule. "The result is a state that is still grappling with the consequences of state-enabled lawlessness," the groups declared, capturing the enduring pain of a state that, in their view, is still bleeding from the wounds of the past.
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