The Chairman of Kogi NGO’S Network, (KONGONET), Hamza Aliyu, has said that the recent attack by Armed Bandits on the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) FM Station 101.5 Jimgbe in the early hours of Saturday 26th July 2025, has once again exposed the challenges bedeviling the security architecture both at National and Sub national levels.
This was contained in a statement issued by KONGONET chairman and made available to Journalists in Lokoja on Saturday.
While lamenting that the Station had faced several operational challenges in past, which he said had limited their ability to provide effective services to the State capital and other conjugal communities, Aliyu noted that this recent incident will further retard the efforts of the management and staffs of the organization in bringing back the reach the Station had at inception.
Speaking further he said “Despite the recent efforts of the State Government towards curbing the recent spike in crimes and criminality, this recent attack has shown that there is need for more concerted efforts at mitigating the menace of Armed crimes especially within the environs of the State Capital.
“This is more so, coming on the heels of the recent fatal attack on Ayo Aiyepekuna, a photo journalist with INSIDE STORY in Lokoja. This particular incidence is not only gruesome but despicable taken into consideration that this was a young and vibrant journalist who was passionate about the job and had a promising career ahead.
“The weak security around the premises of media establishments is a cause for concern as this further exposes them to such attacks and threats.We call on the State and Federal Government to as a matter of urgency investigate these recent incidents with a view to bringing identified perpetrators to justice, while quickly restoring lost equipment so that the Station would continue to provide services to the Citizens of the State as enshrined in its mandate. Aliyu stressed
Continuing Aliyu said “We especially call on the Security Agencies to investigate the brutal murder of the INSIDE STORY Journalist and identify the whereabout of his remains to bring to closure, the agitations of the family who have not only had to bear the trauma of the news of the death of their son, but have to bear the pain of not seeing his corpse.
The KONGONET chairman also called on the Kogi State Government in particular, to pay special attention to Media establishments located in the state so as to enhance their capabilities to perform their constitutional duties to citizens by providing periodic subventions to cover overhead and employment of properly equipped security around their premises.
“We commiserate with the Management and staffs of PRIME FM 101.5 Jimgbe on the robbery attack. We most especially commensurate with the Family of Ayo Aiyepekun on this traumatic incidence and pray that they find closure and fortitude from Almighty God to bear the trauma. Aliyu concluded