Kogi East, once celebrated for its fertile farmlands and thriving markets, has become a region enshrouded in insecurity. Bandit assaults, abductions, and violent raids have rendered communities apprehensive and deeply skeptical of governmental assurances. “We live in perpetual fear,” asserts Mrs. Grace Okolo, a market trader in Dekina. “Even when we report incidents to the authorities, assistance arrives belatedly or not at all.” The pervasive insecurity has transformed quotidian existence into a relentless struggle for survival, imperiling agriculture, commerce, and education.
Residents and local dignitaries express profound disillusionment with the repeated assurances of political leaders. Chief Ibrahim Audu, a venerable community elder, observes: “During every electoral season, we are inundated with promises of security and development. Yet after the ballots are counted, these assurances evaporate into emptiness.” This cyclical pattern of unfulfilled commitments has exacerbated distrust in both state and federal authorities. For many in Kogi East, safety is now contingent upon the vigilance of local communities rather than official protection.
Government officials maintain that measures are being implemented. The Kogi State Police Command reported that patrols and anti-abduction operations have intensified. “We are deploying officers strategically across high-risk communities,” affirms SP David Musa, spokesperson for the command. Nonetheless, recurrent accounts of kidnappings and violent incursions suggest that these interventions are insufficient. Analysts contend that without structural reform, rigorous training, and meaningful community engagement, the cycle of criminality will persist.
The ramifications for the local economy are profound. Agriculturists abandon their fields, merchants shutter their enterprises, and students forego schooling out of apprehension. “We cannot cultivate our lands if we cannot venture beyond our homes safely,” explains Mr. Samuel Ikenna, a cassava farmer in Obi Local Government. “Bandits do not merely seize property; they usurp our collective future.” In a region whose vitality is predicated upon agriculture and trade, insecurity jeopardizes not only livelihoods but the very cohesion of society.
The predicament of Kogi East epitomizes a broader malaise across rural Nigeria: unfulfilled pledges and inconsistent enforcement of security protocols. Residents yearn for more than ceremonial statements and sporadic patrols; they demand a coherent strategy that amalgamates policing, community collaboration, and accountability from political leaders. As Chief Audu articulates, “We do not require rhetoric; we require protection.” Until such interventions are implemented, the question remains unresolved: in Kogi East, who truly safeguards the populace?
– Inah Boniface Ocholi writes from Ayah – Igalamela/Odolu LGA, Kogi state.
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