By Danfulani Lukman Ohinoyi
Before 2016, insecurity had become a major concern across Ebiraland, with communities living in fear of armed robbery, kidnapping and deadly attacks. Traditional rulers, religious leaders, masquerade custodians and ordinary citizens were among those affected, leaving families and communities desperate for lasting peace.
When Alhaji Yahaya Bello assumed office as Governor of Kogi State in 2016, security became one of the defining issues of his administration, as residents looked to the government for protection and a return to normal life.
The insecurity had deep roots. On August 6, 2012, gunmen attacked Deeper Life Bible Church at Otite, near the Federal College of Education in Okene, during a Bible study service. The attackers reportedly switched off the church’s generator before opening fire on worshippers. At least 19 people were reported killed, including the church’s pastor, while several others sustained injuries. The massacre sent shockwaves across the community.
The following day, two soldiers were reportedly killed in another attack at Okene, further deepening public anxiety.
On February 5, 2015, a respected Islamic scholar, Sheikh Abdulazeez Sadiq Enyinavi, was murdered by gunmen in Okene alongside his driver and aide. His death shocked the community and the wider Muslim population.
Months later, on May 25, 2015, Justice Samuel Obayomi of the Ebogogo High Court in Adavi was kidnapped, while his orderly, Usman Musa, was killed. In June 2015, two sons of the then Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Momohjimoh Lawal, were reportedly kidnapped from his residence in Okene, with the kidnappers demanding ₦200 million. I could go on and on with many more of these ugly incidents.
These incidents illustrated the dangers confronting residents and heightened calls for stronger security.
Okene, the commercial heart of Ebiraland, also experienced deadly bank robberies. On July 31, 2015, armed robbers attacked a commercial bank in Okene. Channels Television reported that two policemen and two suspected robbers were killed during the gun battle.
UBA and GTBank were among the banks worst affected by the robberies, with reports describing the use of explosives to break into bank facilities and steal money. This incident happened same day.
Roads also became a source of anxiety as armed robbery and kidnapping threatened travellers, traders, motorists and farmers to the extent that some bricklayers were kidnapped on their way to their working place. Many communities in Kogi Central reportedly resorted to installing gates across roads leading into their neighbourhoods, while young people organised vigilante groups and took turns monitoring their communities because of the continuous killing of traditional rulers (Tarus), religious leaders, custodians of masquerades and ordinary citizens in Ebiraland.
Even during Ramadan, insecurity remained a concern. An attack on security personnel stationed around the Okene Secretariat, near the Ohinoyi’s palace and Ebira Central Mosque, reportedly claimed the lives of three soldiers.
For many residents, the question was simple: Who would protect their families, businesses and communities?
When Yahaya Bello assumed office in 2016, residents needed more than promises; they wanted tangible action against criminality. His administration made security a major priority, working to confront criminal activities and strengthen security operations across Kogi State.
The residents credit Bello’s administration with confronting criminal threats and helping restore confidence across Kogi Central. They point to reported improvements in community safety, freedom of movement and the protection of traditional and religious institutions as important aspects of his security legacy.
Reports also circulated at the time alleging that Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau, whom the United States of America had placed a bounty on, dead or alive, was hiding in Okene. That is how terrible the situation in Ebiraland was at a time before Bello’s administration.
Since Yahaya Bello came into office and left office, he has made a positive impact on security, and Kogi Central recorded zero cases of bank robberies while insecurity was drastically reduced to its barest minimum.
For ordinary residents, security means walking from Okene to Adavi, Okehi, Ajaokuta or Ogori-Magongo without constant fear. It means traders opening their shops, farmers returning home safely, religious leaders conducting their services peacefully and traditional rulers performing their duties without threats.
It also means children sleeping peacefully, families no longer panicking over late arrivals, and young people going about their daily activities without fear of kidnapping.
Kogi Central residents maintain that Bello’s administration helped improve the security situation and left a significant mark on Kogi State, particularly in Ebiraland, where residents had endured painful experiences of violence and fear.
Ultimately, the extent of that progress must be assessed through residents’ experiences and credible security records. The memories of the difficult years remain a reminder that peace must never be taken for granted.
For Ebiraland, the enduring hope is that communities will remain safe, traditional rulers, masquerade custodians and religious leaders will be protected, and no family will again have to live behind community gates because fear has taken over the streets.
The message from Bello’s administration is clear: leadership must be judged not only by promises but also by the changes experienced by ordinary people. In assessing Yahaya Bello’s legacy, security in Ebiraland remains one of the central issues they will remember.
– Comrade Danfulani Lukman Ohinoyi writes from Okene.
