- Council tightens curfew.
By Ralph Omololu Agbana, Lokoja.
A daily, rapid increase in violent organized criminal activities, specifically banditry and kidnapping, is occurring in Yagba West Local Council, Kogi State. Within five days, armed gangs have reportedly killed three persons, abducted yet to be ascertained number of residents and travellers, attacked a passenger bus which, was eventually set ablaze.
On Tuesday at about 8:pm, one person was killed, and three others were abducted at Idi Ogun area, Bareke, Egbe, the commercial centre of Yagba West Council.
Soldiers at the military Forward Operating Base (FOB), Egbe and local vigilantes had the herculean task of containing the criminals in an unabated gun violence around Idi-Ogun, Bareke area of Egbe. During the raid, Juwon Ajisafe, a commercial motorcyclist was shot dead, while the female occupant on the bikeride was abducted alongside two other male victims.
Same Tuesday evening, the armed gang also attacked the home of Francis Ogungbemi, a personal assistant to Senator Sunday Karimi along Idi-Ogun area in Bareke, Egbe. The senator’s aide escaped assassination or being kidnapped by whiskers. The entrance door and properties in the building riddled with bullets in an attempt to kidnap him and his wife. The criminals, however, did not succeed in their mission. After futile attempts to force their way into the apartment, the bandits fled upon noticing the advance of soldiers to the scene.
The incident was preceded by the abduction, a day earlier, of two persons, while one other sustained wounds from gunshots in Odo-Ere, the council headquarters.
The surge in the violent attacks by suspected bandits forced the local government authorities to announce the closure of all schools at midday of Wednesday, indefinitely. The council also imposed a curfew from 7:p.m to 6:a.m within the local government area.
In the last three days, Yagba West has seen repeated bandit attacks targeting roads, farmers, and local residents, leaving several people shot, vehicles destroyed, and multiple abductions reported.
Following months of reports of banditry across Okun-Yoruba axis of Kogi West Senatorial District, Yagba West, specifically has become the epicentre of the operations of bandits and kidnappers in the renewed hostilities in the North Central state of Kogi.
𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 in the last 5 days:
●Armed bandits attacked a commercial bus from Abuja and a second vehicle, a car driven by the former acting Chairman of Yagba West Council, Hon Omoniyi Adeyemi–both headed to Egbe on February 28, 2026–shortly after the School of Nursing in Isanlu Makutu, Yagba East Local Government Area. About nine heavily armed attackers reportedly opened fire from the roadside, but the bus driver, Rosco—well known in Egbe—and Omoye managed to escape the scene with all passengers unharmed. The two vehicles were later escorted by soldiers to enable them continue with their journey to Egbe, after the scare. The incident came less than 24 hours after another attack along the Ijowa–Ijagbe axis in Mopamuro Local Government Area, heightening concerns over worsening security on major roads in Yagba axis.
●A vehicle transporting cashew products on the Egbe–Eruku Road was intercepted and later set ablaze by armed men, after the driver and his assistant fled into the bushes; both survived but the vehicle and cashew load were completely destroyed.
● Near the Lawiri River axis in Odo-Ere, about nine armed bandits reportedly alighted from a cement truck, shot a resident identified as Mr Elijah, and abducted at least two people from a vehicle conveying farm produce.
●Along the Egbe–Okunran axis, Hausa farmers heading to their cashew farms were ambushed but escaped, while other travellers were reportedly kidnapped in a related incident on the same route (local reports and community alerts describe this as part of the same 48‑hour pattern of attacks).
●In Bareke, Egbe, a commercial motorcyclist named Juwon Ajisafe was shot during another armed attack and later confirmed dead in hospital. Three others, two males and a female occupant on the same motorbike with the slain Ajisafe, were abducted, heightening anger and fear in the community.
●Gbenga Akolo of Koro in Ekiti LGA of Kwara was abducted while on transit between Egbe in neighbouring Kogi State and Koro, and the bandits are now demanding 100 million Naira ransom.
The attacks have clustered around key rural corridors (Egbe–Eruku Road, Egbe–Okunran Road, and the Lawiri River/Odo-Ere axis), all critical for cashew farming and local trade.
Residents and local commentators report growing fear, protests, and calls for stronger security presence, as army personnel and vigilantes have been deployed but abductions and shootings continue to be reported within short intervals.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Chairman of Yagba West Council, Tosin Olokun announced a further review of the existing curfew across the Local Government Area following a fresh surge in cases of kidnapping and related criminal activities.
Arising from an emergency security meeting held today, Tuesday, March 3, 2026, the curfew hours have been adjusted and strengthened as part of decisive measures to restore calm and protect lives and property, revealed in a statement by the Press Secretary to the council chairman, Adeyemi Babarinde Sunday.
“The curfew will now run from 7:00 P.M. to 6:00 A.M. daily across all communities in Yagba West Local Government Area. In addition to the revised hours, the Executive Chairman has ordered a total shutdown of all activities within the curfew period. All shops and business premises must be completely closed during the curfew hours, with particular emphasis on beer parlours and other nightlife establishments. Any shop, bar, or business outlet found operating within the restricted hours will be sealed, and the owners prosecuted in accordance with the law.
“All forms of transportation are hereby suspended during the curfew hours. This includes motorcycles, tricycles, private and commercial vehicles. Vehicles from other towns or states passing through Yagba West within the curfew period will not be permitted to transit the Local Government Area. Violators will be arrested, their vehicles impounded, and they will be prosecuted accordingly.
“All forms of human and vehicular movement remain strictly banned between 7:00 P.M. and 6:00 A.M. without exception. Security agencies have been directed to enforce this order firmly and without compromise.
“Residents whose daily economic or farming activities require them to access bush paths or remote areas are strongly advised to exercise extreme caution and limit such movements strictly to safe hours outside the curfew period.
Olokun stated that these measures, though stringent, are necessary to confront the current security challenges and prevent further criminal infiltration within the local government area.
He urged residents, traditional rulers, youth groups, transport unions, and community leaders to cooperate fully with security agencies and provide timely intelligence that can assist ongoing operations.
The council boss reaffirmed that the safety of lives and property remains the paramount priority of his administration and assured that the situation will be continuously reviewed in line with security assessments.
