A labour leader, criminologist and security analyst, Comrade Simeon Eleojo Opaluwa, has put forward a set of practical recommendations for tackling the escalating insecurity in the eastern axis of Kogi State, following a spate of kidnapping incidents in the last 72 hours.
Surge in Kidnapping Incidents
According to Opaluwa, Kogi East has recorded at least three major kidnapping incidents within the past three days along three key routes: the Egume-Alloma road, the notorious Itobe-Anyigba road, and the Ankpa-Anyigba road.
While commending the state government for its ongoing efforts to curb the trend, Opaluwa said additional measures could strengthen the fight against insecurity in the region.
Land Clearance Along Flashpoint Communities
Citing security reports, Opaluwa identified the stretch between Ojuolija and Aloji along the Itobe-Anyigba road — an axis that also includes Ojodu — as a recurring flashpoint for attacks. He urged the state government to take ownership of the land mass in that corridor, clear the forest cover, and convert it into a state-owned farm.
“With the clearing, you can see movements of people and animals from a distance,” he said, noting that removing forest cover would strip attackers of concealment and improve visibility for both security operatives and road users.
Deployment of Drones and Land Patrols
Opaluwa also called for the deployment of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) recently procured by the state government to the affected corridor, particularly the Alloma axis, to be used alongside land patrol teams. He said combining aerial surveillance with ground patrols would help detect and disrupt criminal movements before attacks occur.
Forest Guards to Patrol Densely Wooded Routes
On the deployment of newly trained forest guards, Opaluwa noted that the armed personnel — already trained and equipped for service — should be stationed within the forested areas linked to the attacks. He singled out the road from Abocho to Biraidu as densely forested and in need of similar attention.
He expressed confidence that a combination of these strategies — land clearance, drone surveillance, ground patrols and forest guard deployment — would significantly reduce the frequency of attacks along these roads and ease the burden on residents and commuters who rely on them daily.
“These strategies will reduce incidents on these roads. This will ameliorate the plights of the people and others plying these roads,” Opaluwa said.
