Tension in Kogi West as Bandits Lay Siege on Yoruba-Speaking Communities
By Trend Brio News| October 12, 2025 KOGI STATE, Nigeria – Fear and uncertainty have gripped the Kogi West Senatorial District, the Yoruba-speaking region of Kogi State, as escalating bandit attacks continue to terrorize residents across the area’s seven local government areas. Once known for its peaceful, agrarian communities, the region has become a hotspot of insecurity, with villagers abandoning their homes and farmlands in droves. Those who remain live in constant fear, unable to farm or move freely as armed gangs launch frequent assaults on settlements. According to local sources, numerous lives have been lost, including those of policemen and vigilante members, in recent attacks. The bandits, believed to have migrated from parts of the North-West and North-Central regions, are said to be operating from dense forest hideouts where they plan kidnappings and raids on travelers and farmers. “The forests that once gave us food and peace are now where death lives,” lamented a resident of Kabba, who described how entire communities have been forced to relocate. Poor Roads Fuel Insecurity The deteriorating infrastructure in Kogi West has worsened the crisis. Key roads, such as the Ilorin–Omuaran–Kabba Highway, have reportedly collapsed after years of neglect by both state and federal authorities, leaving several communities inaccessible and vulnerable to criminal activities. Only a handful of towns—mainly local government headquarters—have paved roads, making it nearly impossible for security forces to respond quickly to distress calls or patrol remote areas. A Region in Distress For many locals, the insecurity is only the latest chapter in a long history of government neglect. Despite the region’s contributions to agriculture and commerce, residents say they have been marginalized in infrastructure and development projects. “Our people can no longer go to the farm or market without fear,” said a community leader. “We have been forgotten by those in power.” As the situation worsens, calls are growing for urgent government intervention, including improved road access, better policing, and coordinated security operations to reclaim the forests and restore peace to the embattled region.
