Governor consoles bereaved families, pledges tighter security network to end attacks on border communities
Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, has condemned in strong terms the brutal attack on Egbe community in Yagba West Local Government Area, describing it as a direct assault on peace and humanity in the state.
The governor, in a statement issued through the Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor, Unubi Emmanuel, mourned the gallant officers of the Nigeria Police Force and members of the Vigilante Service who lost their lives while defending residents against the invaders. He vowed that their sacrifice would not be in vain.
“Their blood will not be shed in vain. We will not rest until those behind this heinous crime are tracked down, apprehended, and brought to justice,” Ododo affirmed.
He assured residents that his administration was strengthening collaboration with security agencies, improving community policing, and equipping local vigilantes with more resources to secure every part of the state. While consoling the families of the slain officers and vigilantes, he pledged that the government would stand by them and ensure the dependents of the fallen heroes are not abandoned.
The governor commended the swift response of security agencies and local vigilantes in confronting the attackers and urged residents to remain vigilant, report suspicious activities, and resist the temptation of fear. He warned sternly against harbouring criminals or aiding their operations, declaring that such acts would be met with decisive government action.
“Together, we will overcome. Together, we will send a clear message that Kogi State cannot be broken,” Ododo declared, before offering prayers for the repose of the souls of the victims and comfort for their families.
Earlier, the Chairman of Yagba West Local Government Area, Hon. Tosin Olokun, expressed appreciation to the governor for personally visiting the community in its moment of grief. He described Ododo’s presence as a mark of genuine leadership, noting that only a government that cares for its people would stand with them during such a time of pain.
Also addressing the gathering, the State Security Adviser, Retired Commander Jerry Omodara, highlighted the government’s ongoing efforts to bolster security across border communities. He explained that most of the bandits attacking flashpoints in Kogi were fleeing from neighbouring states, but assured residents that the criminals’ hideouts had been identified and were being neutralised with the support of the Federal Government and the National Security Adviser.
Omodara disclosed plans to establish a Forward Operation Base (FOB) in Egbe to curb insecurity in the area and warned that local collaborators and saboteurs working with bandits would face dire consequences.
His Royal Highness, Oba Ayodele Irukera, the Elegbe of Egbe, also spoke during the visit, appealing for greater security presence in the community. He noted that as a border town, Egbe was especially vulnerable to violent attacks. While apologising for the road blockade recently staged by youths in protest of insecurity, the monarch said it was borne out of frustration. “It is inhuman for five people to be killed in just one day,” he lamented, calling for urgent reinforcement of security.
Representing the youths, Engineer Olugbenga David urged the government to integrate young people into its security strategies. He further called for the deployment of additional personnel, including trained forest guards, to the area to boost surveillance and rapid response.
Accompanying the Deputy Governor on the visit were the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor, Hilary Ojoma Egwudah; the State Commissioner for Environment and Ecological Management, Engr. Joseph Oluwaseun, the State Coordinator of the AGILE Project, Abdullahi Tijani Oricha, the Chairman of Olamaboro Local Government Area, and Williams Ikojo Ameh, among others.
The Egbe attack has once again underscored the vulnerability of border communities in Kogi and the pressing need for a fortified security architecture. Governor Ododo’s reassurance signals a renewed push by his administration to ensure that peace is restored and the state remains unbroken in the face of rising threats.
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