The Kogi NGO Network (KONGONET), has called on the Kogi State Government to take urgent and proactive steps to arrest the deteriorating security situation in the state.
In a statement by Hamza Aliyu
Chairman of KONGONET, the umbrella organization coordinating civil society networks and development-focused non-governmental organizations in Kogi State, expresses deep concern over the rising spate of insecurity across communities in the state.
“As the foremost platform for harmonizing civil society responses and promoting participatory governance, KONGONET is committed to safeguarding the welfare, rights, and safety of all Kogites. Aliyu noted.
He lamented that over the past several months, Kogi State has experienced a noticeable escalation in security threats across multiple Local Government Areas, affecting both urban and rural communities.
Aliyu noted that while Kogi has historically grappled with occasional criminal activities due to its strategic location linking the North and South, he however said that recent patterns indicate a more coordinated and frequent wave of insecurity.
According to the KONGONET chairman, there have been a surge in kidnappings for ransom, particularly along major transportation routes such as; the Kabba–Obajana–Lokoja corridor, The Abuja–Lokoja expressway, Remote areas of Yagba East, Yagba West, Ijumu, Okene, and Kogi (Koton-Karfe)
Speaking further he said “These incidents involve highway ambushes, abduction of commuters, invasion of communities, and targeted attacks on farmers and traders. This has increased fear among residents and disrupted local economic activities.
” Communities in Kabba/Bunu, Yagba East, Omala, Dekina, and parts of Kogi East have reported incursions by armed groups suspected to be bandits or criminal gangs. In some cases, bandits have occupied nearby forests, using them as bases to launch attacks on villages and travelers.
“Communal Tensions and Land-Use Conflicts; Some LGAs, particularly in Kogi East and Kogi West, have faced renewed tensions associated with Boundary disputes, Farmer, herder conflicts, Resource competition exacerbated by economic hardship and climate-related pressures.
“These clashes have resulted in loss of lives, destruction of property, and displacement of families. The Role of Fake News and Misinformation Compounding this situation is the rapid spread of fake news, manipulated videos, and unverified reports across social media platforms.
“This wave of misinformation has intensified public panic and poses a real danger of escalating tensions, triggering community mistrust, and potentially leading to civil unrest if not addressed urgently.
KONGONET however strongly warns that misinformation can undermine the credibility of legitimate security alerts, distort citizens’ perception of government efforts, and weaken community resilience at a time when accurate information is critically needed.
While Condemning the recent acts of violence and the resultant insecurity affecting families, farmers, traders, students, and vulnerable populations across Kogi State, KONGONET calls for enhanced coordination and proactive engagement between government institutions, security agencies, traditional authorities, and civil society to ensure a transparent and inclusive response.
The group urged the Government to strengthen community-based security initiatives, including local vigilante structures, early-warning systems, cross-community intelligence sharing, and conflict-prevention mechanisms, while ensuring these groups operate under human-rights compliant protocols.
They encouraged citizens to avoid sharing unverified information, desist from spreading panic, and rely solely on official communication channels and credible media sources.
Call to Action: Strengthening State Security Architecture and Establishing State Police To address insecurity sustainably,
KONGONET also called on the Kogi State government scale up operational capacity of security agencies, including improved logistics, intelligence gathering, and rapid response systems in high-risk LGAs.
In addition they stressed that there is the urgent need to deepen community engagement, recognizing that local participation is essential for building trust, resilience, and shared responsibility for security.
He added that the government must urgently pursue the establishment of a State Police structure, in line with ongoing national discussions, by decentralizing policing framework, which according to him, would ensure faster, culturally aware, and community-rooted responses to security threats.
“Institutionalize a State Peace and Security Coordination Framework, involving CSOs, youth groups, women leaders, religious institutions, and traditional councils.
“KONGONET firmly believes that security is a shared responsibility. The partnership of citizens, civil society, community leaders, and state actors is indispensable to restoring peace, protecting lives, and ensuring sustainable development across all communities.
“KONGONET reiterates its commitment to working with government, security agencies, and development partners to build a safer and more resilient Kogi State.
“The Network remains open to collaboration on community sensitization, peace building programmes, and the development of early-warning and early-response systems across the 21 Local Government Areas. The group maintained