Kogi Governor cries out: Bandit commanders have relocated to Kogi, we’ll take the fight to them

Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has cried out that major bandit commanders have relocated to the state from their previous domain.

Ododo disclosed this after the Kogi State Peace and Security Council Meeting held on Thursday, in Government House, Lokoja.

Recall that bandits have launched a large-scale attack on schools and churches, kidnapping hundreds of victims and triggering fears among many Nigerians.

Ododo said that his government has launched a bold and far-reaching security blueprint, saying that Kogi “will not bow to criminal intimidation.”

The meeting was attended by top traditional rulers, security agencies, and community leaders

He announced immediate measures aimed at closing security gaps, especially in mining areas, which he described as “potential magnets for criminal groups if left unregulated.”

The governor said, “The major bandit commanders have relocated to Kogi State. We will not wait for them to attack us, we are going to take the fight to them. We are not going to bow to any criminal, and we are not going to negotiate with them”

According to him, all activities in places of worship, such as churches and mosques, must henceforth end by 4 pm.

Ododo also vowed not to pay ransom to bandits if they attack the state.

Banditry remains one of Nigeria’s most persistent security challenges, especially in the North-West and parts of the North-Central. Bandits have carried out widespread kidnappings, killings, cattle rustling, village raids, and attacks on schools.

These groups operate from forest enclaves across states such as Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, Niger, Sokoto, and Kebbi. However, bandits have extended their attacks to states like Kogi, Kwara, amongst others.

The attacks have resulted in the death of thousands of civilians, with hundreds of residents displaced. Their actions have also forced school closures following the recent attacks on schools in some states in the country.