An Appeal to the Kogi State Government and the Federal Government of Nigeria
The youths of Kogi East are raising a loud, urgent and patriotic cry to the Kogi State Government and the Federal Government of Nigeria over the alarming escalation of insecurity across communities and major highways in Kogi East.
The situation has become increasingly disturbing. Kidnapping, armed attacks, banditry and other criminal activities are creating fear among innocent citizens, farmers, traders, students, transporters and other road users. Our people deserve to live, travel, farm and conduct their legitimate businesses without fear.
We therefore respectfully call on His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, Executive Governor of Kogi State, to urgently convey this security concern to the highest level of the Federal Government and seek stronger intervention and sustained operational support from His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.
WE NEED STRATEGIC SECURITY CHECKPOINTS
As part of immediate preventive measures, we passionately appeal to the State and Federal Governments to consider the deployment of adequate security personnel, particularly the Nigerian Army, alongside the Police, Civil Defence, DSS and other relevant security agencies, to strategic locations along identified vulnerable routes.
We specifically call for strengthened security presence and properly coordinated checkpoints along:
- Ochadamu–Okabo Road
- Itobe–Ajegwu Road
- Ochadamu–Okele Road
- Ejule–Iboko Road
These routes require urgent intelligence-led security operations, regular patrols, surveillance and strategic checkpoints, because criminals can exploit isolated stretches of these roads to carry out attacks and kidnapping operations.
We are not calling for unnecessary harassment of innocent citizens. Rather, we are asking for professional, intelligence-driven and community-sensitive security operations that will protect lives and property while respecting the rights of law-abiding citizens.
OUR APPRECIATION TO THE SECURITY FORCES
While making this urgent appeal, the youths of Kogi East also wish to commend the 21 Battalion, Ogidibeje Junction, and other security formations operating across Kogi East for their sacrifices and continued efforts to protect our communities.
We equally appreciate the contributions of the Nigerian Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Department of State Services and other security agencies, as well as the Vigilante groups working with relevant authorities at the grassroots.
Your sacrifices do not go unnoticed.
However, the increasing security challenges demand greater manpower, logistics, intelligence gathering, mobility, surveillance equipment and sustained inter-agency coordination.
THIS IS A CRY FOR HELP, NOT A POLITICAL ATTACK
This appeal is above partisan politics. Security is a collective responsibility. Life has no political party.
The people of Kogi East want to see stronger collaboration between the Federal Government, Kogi State Government, traditional institutions, local government authorities, security agencies and responsible community-based security structures.
We therefore urge the Governor to treat this matter as an emergency and use his position to secure additional federal security intervention for Kogi East.
Our roads must be safe.
Our farmers must return safely from their farms.
Our traders must travel without fear.
Our students must go to school without anxiety.
Our families must sleep peacefully.
OUR MESSAGE IS SIMPLE: PROTECT KOGI EAST
The youths of Kogi East are patriotic citizens of Nigeria. We believe in the government and the constitutional responsibility of the government to protect the lives and property of citizens.
We are therefore appealing for urgent action before the situation becomes worse.
We call for increased military and security visibility, intelligence-led operations, strategic checkpoints, routine patrols, rapid-response mechanisms, community intelligence networks and sustained security operations across vulnerable corridors.
Kogi East must not be abandoned to criminals.
We believe that with decisive leadership, adequate security resources, effective intelligence sharing and strong cooperation between government and communities, the tide of insecurity can be reversed.
We are crying today because we want our people to live tomorrow.
Protect our people. Secure our roads. Defend our communities. Save Kogi East.
– Edison Atumeyi Edime
Political Activist & Youths Advocate
Kogi East, Kogi State
07068760054
