- Laments rise in dangerous spread of misinformation
Kogi NGO Network (KONGONET), the umbrella organization coordinating civil society networks and development-focused non-governmental organizations in Kogi State, has expressed deep concern over the rising spate of insecurity across communities in the state.
In a statement signed by the Chairperson, Hamza Aliyu, and made available to newsmen in Lokoja on Wednesday, KONGONET condemned recent acts of violence and the resultant insecurity affecting families, farmers, traders, students, and vulnerable populations across Kogi state.
KONGONET called on Kogi state government to scale up operational capacity of security agencies, including improved logistics, intelligence gathering, and rapid response systems in high-risk local government areas.
The network noted that over the past several months, Kogi State has experienced a noticeable escalation in security threats across multiple local government areas, affecting both urban and rural communities.
“While Kogi has historically grappled with occasional criminal activities due to its strategic location linking the North and South, recent patterns indicate a more coordinated and frequent wave of insecurity.
“There has been a surge in kidnappings for ransom, particularly along major transportation routes such as The Kabba–Obajana–Lokoja corridor, The Abuja–Lokoja expressway, remote areas of Yagba East, Yagba West, Ijumu, Okene, and Kogi (Koton-Karfe)
“These incidents involve highway ambushes, abduction of commuters, invasion of communities, and targeted attacks on farmers and traders. This has increased fear among residents and disrupted local economic activities.
“Communities in Kabba/Bunu, Yagba East, Omala, Dekina, and parts of Kogi East have reported incursions by armed groups suspected to be bandits or criminal gangs. In some cases, bandits have occupied nearby forests, using them as bases to launch attacks on villages and travelers.
“Some LGAs—particularly in Kogi East and Kogi West—have faced renewed tensions associated with boundary disputes, Farmer–herder conflicts, resource competition exacerbated by economic hardship and climate-related pressures. These clashes have resulted in loss of lives, destruction of property, and displacement of families,” the statement read.
KONGONET, however, expressed concerns about the role of fake news and misinformation amidst security situation in the state.
It said the rapid spread of fake news, manipulated videos, and unverified reports across social media platforms is compounding the situation.
“This wave of misinformation has intensified public panic and poses a real danger of escalating tensions, triggering community mistrust, and potentially leading to civil unrest if not addressed urgently,” it said.
KONGONET strongly warned that misinformation can undermine the credibility of legitimate security alerts, distort citizens’ perception of government efforts, and weaken community resilience at a time when accurate information is critically needed.
The Network called for enhanced coordination and proactive engagement between government institutions, security agencies, traditional authorities, and civil society to ensure a transparent and inclusive response.
It urged government to strengthen community-based security initiatives, including local vigilante structures, early-warning systems, cross-community intelligence sharing, and conflict-prevention mechanisms—while ensuring these groups operate under human-rights compliant protocols.
KONGONET also encouraged citizens to avoid sharing unverified information, desist from spreading panic, and rely solely on official communication channels and credible media sources.
To address insecurity sustainably, KONGONET called on the Kogi state government to deepen community engagement, recognizing that local participation is essential for building trust, resilience, and shared responsibility for security.
It also called called the establishment of a State Police structure, in line with ongoing national discussions as it believes a decentralized policing framework would ensure faster, culturally aware, and community-rooted responses to security threats.
KONGONET said it firmly believes that security is a shared responsibility, stressing that the partnership of citizens, civil society, community leaders, and state actors is indispensable to restoring peace, protecting lives, and ensuring sustainable development across all communities.
The Network reiterated its commitment to working with government, security agencies, and development partners to build a safer and more resilient Kogi State.
“The Network remains open to collaboration on community sensitization, peacebuilding programmes, and the development of early-warning and early-response systems across the 21 Local Government Areas.”
