Bandits ‘take over’ Yoruba-speaking LGAs in Kogi

Residents say the once peaceful region has become a theatre of violence, with villages sacked, farmers displaced, and security personnel killed in a wave of terror that shows no sign of abating.

Findings by Sunday Vanguard revealed that several communities have been deserted, while those who remain live in constant fear. The invaders, believed to be fleeing from military operations in the North-West and North-Central zones, now occupy vast forests across Yagba, Kabba-Bunu, Ijumu, Mopamuro, and parts of Lokoja.

In recent months, dozens of villagers, police officers, and vigilantes have been killed or abducted. The attacks, mostly at night, have left burnt houses, destroyed farmlands, and devastated families.

On September 29, gunmen invaded Bareke community in Egbe, Yagba West LGA, killing at least 27 people and injuring several others in a midnight assault that also saw homes set ablaze. Witnesses said the attackers, riding on motorcycles, fired indiscriminately before looting homes and kidnapping victims.

Earlier in May, three people were killed in Okoloke community following the abduction of Oba James Dada Ogunyanda, a first-class monarch. In January, bandits ambushed an ambulance returning from a funeral between Egbe and Ponyan, killing an undertaker, Segun Adekoya.

Governor Usman Ododo, who visited Yagba West after the Bareke massacre, blamed the growing insecurity on illegal mining activities in Kogi West. He said the scramble for gold and other minerals has turned the forests into criminal enclaves where gangs fund their operations through illegal mining.

The governor has since banned all mining activities in the affected areas pending a full audit of licences. He directed security agencies and the Commissioner for Solid Minerals to seal illegal sites and arrest violators.

“The forests in Kogi West have become operational bases for armed groups. We will dismantle these networks and prosecute everyone involved,” Ododo vowed during his visit.

Security reports also indicate that some locals are allegedly aiding the bandits with food and logistics. In June, joint operations by the Civilian JTF and police arrested 26 suspects, including informants and logistics suppliers.

The Okun Development Association (ODA) and Okun Renaissance Union (ORU), the two main Yoruba sociocultural groups in Kogi, have repeatedly warned that the region is becoming another Benue or Plateau if urgent action is not taken.

“Kogi West is gradually turning into another theatre of bloodshed,” said Mr. Temitope Bamkefa, President of ORU. “These forests have become safe havens for terrorists, and the roads are too bad for soldiers to respond swiftly.”

Analysts say years of infrastructural neglect have worsened the crisis. The Ilorin–Omuaran–Kabba highway, which links many of the affected communities, has collapsed, making rescue operations difficult and emboldening attackers.
Residents told Sunday Vanguard that even local vigilantes are outgunned. “We are in trouble here,” said Mr. Moses Folorunsho, a farmer in Odo-Ere. “People no longer go to their farms. Even travelling by motorcycle is risky. The roads are terrible and government presence is
The killings have sparked outrage from prominent Nigerians, including Afenifere, Yoruba World Congress, Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, and Senator Sunday Karimi, who all urged the federal government to act decisively before the entire zone is lost to bandits.

Joint security operations such as Operation Accord III have been deployed to flashpoints like Yagba West, Kabba-Bunu, and Ijumu. However, locals say the gangs remain emboldened, attacking villages, police posts, and travellers with impunity.