By Saidu Bin Malik
Residents of Kupa Community in the Lokoja Local Government Area of Kogi State are appealing to the Federal Government, the Kogi State Government, and national security agencies for urgent intervention after a deadly attack by armed bandits left at least 12 people dead following a violent confrontation with local vigilantes.
The attack reportedly affected the communities of Guchidan, Mikugi, and Abugi, leaving grieving families, displacing residents, and spreading fear across the district. Community leaders say the assault has exposed long-standing security gaps that have left the area dangerously exposed to armed criminal groups.
“We are burying our people while our farms and homes stand empty because families are too afraid to return,” a community leader said, describing the scale of the displacement caused by the attack. “We need the government to see that this is not a small, isolated incident — it is a community fighting for its survival.”
A District Without Adequate Protection
At the heart of residents’ grievances is what they describe as a grossly inadequate security presence in a district of roughly 88 villages. Kupa has already been approved for a Divisional Police Office (DPO), but the facility has yet to become operational. In the meantime, the entire Kupa District is served by a single police officer, who residents say has no firearm.
Community leaders also point to poor road infrastructure linking villages across the district, which they say slows down emergency response times and leaves vulnerable communities exposed for longer during attacks.
“One unarmed officer cannot protect 88 villages,” a community leader said. “By the time help can even reach us on these roads, it is often too late. We are asking government to see that this is not a request for special treatment — it is a request for the most basic protection every Nigerian community deserves.”
Traditional Leadership Steps In
Despite the challenges, the traditional institution under the leadership of the Maiyaki of Kupa, Pharm. HRH Dauda Kabir Isah, has continued to coordinate community-based peace and security initiatives, working closely with lawful authorities in an effort to maintain stability in the district.
Community Demands
Community leaders have outlined a series of demands they say are necessary to prevent further bloodshed:
- Immediate operationalisation of the approved Divisional Police Office in Kupa
- Deployment of additional military, police, and other security personnel
- Posting of adequately armed police officers to the area
- Continuous security patrols across vulnerable communities
- Improved intelligence gathering and surveillance
- Protection for farmers and rural communities
- Humanitarian assistance for bereaved and displaced families
- Long-term security measures to prevent future attacks
A Call for Swift Action
Residents say they remain committed to supporting lawful security operations and are urging all levels of government to act without delay. They argue that a stronger security presence in Kupa would do more than protect lives and property — it would restore confidence among residents, safeguard agricultural production that many families depend on, and help secure lasting peace across the district.
For now, families in Guchidan, Mikugi, and Abugi are left mourning their dead and grappling with displacement, as community leaders continue to press federal, state, and security authorities for the reinforcements they say are long overdue.
