A prominent community leader and philanthropist, Otunba Adeniyi Olayemi, has publicly praised military, police, and vigilante operatives for intercepting a planned bandit attack on Ikoyi community in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State.
He described the intervention a direct result of coordinated intelligence and field courage.
Otunba Adeniyi Olayemi, also known by his title So’Mi Edumaré, issued the commendation from Kabba, stating that officers from the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, and local vigilante groups acted on timely intelligence to intercept the attackers before any lives were lost or property damaged.
“Your commitment at a time when banditry threatens rural communities deserves public recognition,” Olayemi said in a statement released Sunday.
Security Forces Praised as ‘First Line of Defense’
Olayemi described the joint security response as evidence that Kogi West’s security apparatus remains capable of protecting civilian populations. He directed particular attention to what he characterized as the growing threat of banditry across Nigeria’s rural communities, a pattern that has unsettled states across the north-central region.
He urged Ikoyi residents to maintain vigilance and strengthen cooperation with security agencies, framing community participation as inseparable from formal enforcement efforts.
“Security is a collective responsibility,” Olayemi stated.
Displaced Residents to Receive Support, Politician Pledges
Beyond the commendation, Olayemi announced plans to engage relevant stakeholders on behalf of residents he described as victims of fear and displacement resulting from the incident. He did not specify a timeline for those engagements or identify which stakeholders would be consulted.
The politician also linked the security response to broader priorities he outlined, including youth engagement and peacebuilding across Ijumu LGA.
Ijumu LGA sits in Kogi West Senatorial District, a zone that has periodically reported security incidents tied to armed groups operating in the broader north-central corridor.
