Security Challenges in Kogi Tied to Displacement from Northeast and Northwest Regions

Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, has attributed the rise in insecurity within the state to criminal elements escaping military offensives in Nigeria’s Northeast and Northwest regions.

Governor Ododo made this known in Abuja on Friday during a courtesy visit to the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He highlighted that Kogi’s geographical location—bordering as many as ten states including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)—makes it susceptible to infiltration by fleeing criminals.

“Kogi State is not a safe zone or sanctuary for criminal activities. We are tackling them head-on. We don’t make unnecessary noise—they know this,” he said.

“They come in large numbers, but they leave defeated. They arrive with functioning phones, but once they enter Kogi, those numbers vanish. We are actively confronting them,” Ododo asserted.

Governor Ododo noted that ongoing military operations in other regions have forced some armed groups to seek refuge in Kogi’s forests. According to him, the sudden influx of such elements into the state is a direct result of intensified security campaigns in the Northeast and Northwest zones.

He emphasized that only those with criminal intentions would choose to reside and hide in forest areas, implying that such movements are deliberate attempts to escape justice.

In addition, the governor addressed the economic underdevelopment of Kogi’s mineral and agricultural sectors as a contributing factor to insecurity.

“Kogi State holds over 32 mineral resources in significant commercial quantities, yet they have never benefited the state. Our fertile land can grow any crop, but it’s still underutilized,” Ododo lamented.

He urged all Nigerians to partner with the government in addressing the country’s broader security concerns and fostering sustainable development.