KOGI WEST INSECURITY: A CALL TO SAVE OKUNLAND FROM ARMED BANDITRY – RT. HON. TEEJAY YUSUF
For several years—most alarmingly in recent months—the people of Kogi West, particularly Okunland, have been subjected to persistent and brutal attacks by armed bandits. These assaults have resulted in the tragic loss of lives, destruction of farmlands, mass displacement, kidnappings, and the erosion of livelihoods in communities that were once peaceful and productive.
The brazenness with which these criminals operate is deeply troubling. They move freely across vast areas of Okunland, invade homes, abduct residents on highways, and occupy farmlands with near-total impunity. Fear, uncertainty, and economic paralysis now define daily life for thousands of innocent citizens.
This insecurity has imposed severe social and economic consequences. Families have been plunged into poverty through ransom payments, agricultural production has collapsed in many areas, and entire communities live under constant threat. What was once a region known for harmony and industry is now engulfed in anxiety and despair.
These developments raise urgent questions: Why has Kogi West become increasingly vulnerable to armed banditry? What policy failures enabled this crisis? And why has it been so difficult to dismantle the criminal networks operating in our forests and rural settlements?
It is important to recall that in November 2021, the secretive visit of Sheikh Ahmed Gumi to forest communities in Okunland raised serious concerns. The visit—conducted at night, without the involvement of local traditional rulers or Islamic leaders—coincided with heightened incidents of herdsmen attacks, kidnappings, and farmland destruction. Those concerns remain unresolved, even as insecurity has worsened.
Equally significant was the manner in which the RUGA policy of the late Muhammadu Buhari was embraced in Kogi State. The implementation lacked adequate consultation and sensitivity to the state’s multi-ethnic and cultural composition. Under the administration of former Governor Yahaya Bello, reports emerged of pressure on traditional institutions to accept herder settlements. Today, the unintended consequences of that policy are painfully evident.
Armed herders—some reportedly from outside Nigeria—have entrenched themselves in parts of Kogi West, displacing indigenous farmers, renaming settlements with alien nomenclature, and taking control of local markets. The risk is no longer hypothetical: beyond land loss, there is a real danger of cultural erosion and loss of territorial control.
This situation demands immediate, decisive, and coordinated action. The Federal Government must demonstrate the political will required to secure Okunland, given its strategic location between Northern and South-Western Nigeria. The Kogi State Government and Local Government Councils must treat insecurity as a non-negotiable priority, free from political calculations. Security agencies must be fully mobilised and adequately supported to dismantle criminal camps and reclaim occupied territories.
For the people of Okunland, unity is imperative. Political leaders must rise above party affiliations, elites must contribute resources, and traditional institutions must prioritise the safety and survival of their people over short-term conveniences.
Nigeria cannot afford to ignore the crisis in Kogi West. Protecting lives, land, and livelihoods in Okunland is not only a regional necessity—it is a national obligation. Only through sincerity, honesty, and collective resolve can lasting solutions be achieved.
RT. HON. TEEJAY YUSUF
(Democracy Newsline Newspaper, December 20th 2025)
