I write to you today with grave concern and an urgent plea for intervention as the people of Yagba West Local Government Area endure an unrelenting wave of kidnappings. This criminal scourge has plunged our communities into a state of fear, despair, and economic paralysis, demanding immediate and decisive action from the Kogi State Government.
In recent weeks, kidnappings have escalated alarmingly across Yagba West. Armed gangs now operate with brazen impunity, abducting farmers, traders, and even vulnerable elderly citizens. Families are forced to sell land, livestock, and livelihoods to pay ransoms, while others mourn loved ones lost to violence during these traumatic ordeals.
The psychological toll on victims, survivors, and families is immeasurable, and the silence from authorities has only deepened our collective anguish.
While we recognize the broader security challenges facing our state, the specific targeting of Yagba West for kidnapping-for-ransom schemes suggests a failure of intelligence, prevention, and enforcement.
Communities feel abandoned, with rumors and misinformation filling the void left by a lack of official communication.
We urgently call on your office and the Kogi State Government to:
1. Deploy Specialized Anti-Kidnapping Units: Mobilize tactical security forces (police, military, or DSS) with expertise in hostage rescue and counter-kidnapping operations to dismantle criminal networks in Yagba West.
2. Establish Emergency Communication Channels: Provide a dedicated hotline or platform for residents to report suspicious activities or kidnappings in real time, ensuring swift responses.
3. Publicly Condemn and Investigate: Issue official statements to reassure citizens, disclose steps being taken to secure releases, and hold periodic briefings on progress in apprehending perpetrators.
4. Collaborate with State government agencies: Seek support from the state security bodies (e.g. Anti-Kidnapping Squads) to track ransom payments, freeze suspect accounts, and disrupt funding to kidnappers.
5. Support Victims and Families: Create a trauma counseling fund and financial aid program for affected families, many of whom are impoverished by ransom demands.
6. Engage Traditional and Youth Leaders: Partner with local leaders to strengthen community vigilance and intelligence-gathering mechanisms.
The people of Yagba West are not statistics. Each kidnapping represents a shattered family, a traumatized child, and a community stripped of its dignity. We can no longer accept vague assurances or prolonged inaction. Transparency, accountability, and measurable results are non-negotiable.
We urge you to leverage your office to ensure this crisis is prioritized at the highest levels of governance. If our voices go unheard, we will have no choice but to amplify this appeal through broader civic action and MEDIA EXPOSURE.
The time to act is NOW.
Yours in urgent solidarity,
– Oladapo Mikky wrote from Lagos.
