For nearly a decade, Kogi State has operated under the same security leadership and framework. Yet, despite repeated assurances and visible government efforts, insecurity has continued to spread, deepen, and disrupt daily life. Recent events suggest that the existing security architecture may have exhausted its capacity to respond meaningfully to emerging threats.
The most alarming indicator is the growing paralysis of normal social and economic activities. In Kogi West, several markets have been shut down due to the high level of insecurity. Social gatherings—once a vital part of community life—have also been suspended in many areas for fear of attacks. When people can no longer trade freely or assemble peacefully, the implications go far beyond security; they strike at the heart of livelihoods, culture, and social cohesion.
Even more troubling is the impact on education. Schools across parts of the state have been closed following what government officials described as an unfavourable “security report.” This decision, while possibly taken to protect lives, underscores a painful reality: insecurity is now dictating the education calendar in Kogi State. Each day schools remain closed widens learning gaps, increases dropout risks, and exposes young people to social vices.
Education and commerce are pillars of development. When markets are locked and classrooms deserted, the future of the state is placed in jeopardy. Criminal elements gain confidence, while law-abiding citizens retreat into fear and uncertainty. This is not a sustainable path for any society.
It is important to acknowledge that government has made efforts to address the situation. Security meetings are held, personnel are deployed, and commitments are reiterated. However, after close to ten years under the same security adviser, the persistence—and apparent expansion—of insecurity raises critical questions.
Are current strategies still effective? Have they adapted to evolving threats? Or has the system become predictable, reactive, and intellectually exhausted? Security challenges are dynamic.
Criminal networks adjust tactics, exploit weak intelligence, and take advantage of poor coordination among agencies. A security architecture that remains unchanged for too long risks losing relevance. What may have worked in the past can become ineffective in the face of new realities.
In Kogi today, the security framework appears overstretched and largely reactive. Community members frequently complain of delayed responses, weak intelligence gathering, and insufficient engagement with local stakeholders who understand the terrain. Shutting down markets and schools may reduce immediate risks, but it is not a solution—it is an emergency response that signals deeper systemic failure. This is the moment for honest reassessment and bold reform.
Rethinking the security architecture should include leadership renewal where necessary, intelligence-driven operations, stronger community policing, and better coordination among security agencies. Local input must be treated as an asset, not an afterthought.
Ultimately, security should be measured by its impact on everyday life. When traders cannot open their shops, families cannot attend social functions, and children cannot go to school, public confidence erodes rapidly. Kogi State cannot afford to normalize fear as a way of life.
The reality is stark: the current security architecture has run out of fresh ideas. To restore safety, protect livelihoods, and secure the future of education, Kogi must urgently rethink—and decisively reform—its approach to security. The cost of inaction is simply too high.
– Musa Tanimu Nasidi writes from Lokoja.
