Kogi's insecurity may worsen food scarcity, threaten River Basin Authority

The ongoing disruption of the socio-economic activities in Communities in Western Senatorial District of Kogi State is negatively impacting the operations of the Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority (LNRBDA), the Management of the Agency has observed.

The Agency said the prevailing insecurity in the area which is manifesting in form of kidnapping, banditry, and killings, threatening critical agricultural and water resource projects being executed in the region

According to the Agency, stakeholders in the area should as a matter of urgency prioritise collaborative efforts in strengthening local vigilante groups to combat rising insecurity in affected Communities in all the Local Government Areas in the District.

The call was contained in a statement issued by Abidemi Adeyemi, Executive Director, finance and administration of the LNRBDA, on behalf of the Agency which was made available to BusinessDay on Tuesday.

The statement highlighted the urgent need for collective action to address rampant cases of kidnapping, banditry, and killings, which have crippled socio-economic activities and threatened critical agricultural and water resource projects in the region.

“The safety of our people and the sustainability of our development initiatives are non-negotiable. Local vigilantes have been at the forefront of safeguarding our communities, but they lack adequate resources and institutional backing. We must rally together to empower them.

“The Okun region, particularly Yagba West, has faced escalating security challenges, disrupting livelihoods and stalling LNRBDA projects aimed at enhancing irrigation, food security, and water management. These challenges threaten to reverse gains in poverty alleviation and rural development”, the statement declared.

The statement outlined key measures for stakeholders—including government bodies, private sector actors, traditional institutions, and civil society groups—to adopt which include: Government Intervention, Resource Provision, Capacity Building, Community Engagement and Sustainable Funding.

Also, statement urged both State and Federal Authorities to deploy additional security personnel, establish forward operating bases, and conduct coordinated operations to dismantle criminal networks; donate vehicles, communication devices, and protective gear to improve vigilante operations; partnership with security agencies to train vigilantes in modern crime prevention and response tactics; Establishment of platforms for intelligence-sharing between residents, vigilantes, and law enforcement and allocation financial support to ensure continuity of local security efforts.

The LNRBDA reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to advancing development projects but stressed that peace is a prerequisite for progress.

“Our investments in infrastructure and agriculture mean little if our people live in fear. We urge all stakeholders to join hands with us in this critical fight for stability. The time to act is now. Let us stand with our local heroes—the vigilantes—to reclaim our communities and secure a prosperous future for Okun and Yagba West”, the statement concluded.