Kogi State government has in response to the rising wave of kidnappings and other violent crimes banned night travelling as from 7pm on all state roads.
The measure was announced in Saturday in Lokoja by Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo.
“All movements on state roads must cease by 7:00 p.m. daily until further notice.
“Any person found travelling on a state-owned road after 7:00 p.m. shall be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law,” the government said.
The government also banned Okada operations in Bunu interland where bandits killed a school vice principal and two others during attempts by bandits to kidnap students writing their WAEC examination at Iluke.
Recall that bandits operating on Okada on Wednesday , June 10, 2026 invaded Government Secondary School, Iluke Bunu community in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State.
During the invasion, the school’s Vice Principal and two other persons were killed.
The bandits had targeted students of the school writing their WAEC examination.
However, prompt arrival if security agents at the scene prevented the bandits from accomplishing their aim.
In addition, government has also shut down some markets and placed restrictions on sale of fuel to cut off bandits supply network.
Kingsley Femi Fanwo, Commissioner for Information and Communications
announced the new security measures in a statement on Saturday.
All the new security measures take effect from June 13, 2026.
The full text of the statement as issued by the state government.
KOGI STATE GOVERNMENT
PRESS RELEASE
KOGI GOVERNMENT BANS OKADA OPERATIONS IN BUNU HINTERLANDS, BANS NIGHT TRAVEL ON STATE ROADS AFTER 7PM, SHUTS MARKETS AND RESTRICTS FUEL SALES TO CUT OFF BANDITS’ SUPPLY NETWORK
1. The Kogi State Government has announced a series of immediate security measures aimed at cutting off logistics and supply routes to criminal elements currently under sustained military and security pressure in parts of Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area.
2. Following a comprehensive review of ongoing security operations in Bunu District after the recent terrorist attack on Iluke community which was successfully repelled, intelligence and operational reports indicate that significant progress has been made by Joint Security Forces. Several of the attackers have been confirmed neutralized, while many others sustained varying degrees of injuries and are currently trapped within forested areas across the district as security clearance operations continue.
3. To consolidate these gains and deny the criminals access to food, water, medication, fuel and other essential supplies, the Kogi State Government has approved the immediate ban on the use of commercial motorcycles, popularly known as Okada, within designated hinterland corridors of Bunu District.
4. The affected areas include the corridor stretching from Idoyi Bunu through Illah Bunu, Iluke Bunu and Kiri, as well as the route from Iluke Bunu through Odai Bunu, Igbo Bunu, Ilogun Bunu, Olle Bunu, Ayede Bunu, Oke-Ofin Bunu and Edumo Bunu. The restrictions shall also apply to the Ayede Bunu, Aherin, Eshi and Ighun Bunu corridor and all other routes within the Bunu hinterlands.
5. Intelligence available to security agencies has revealed that motorcycle operators constitute a major channel through which food items, water, drugs and other logistics are transported to bandits hiding within the forests. Investigations have also established that some criminal elements utilize motorcycle transportation to conduct reconnaissance and gather intelligence on targeted communities before launching attacks.
6. Consequently, any motorcycle rider found transporting passengers, goods or supplies along the designated routes shall be apprehended and dealt with in accordance with the provisions of the Kogi State Anti-Terrorism Law.
7. The Motorcycle Operators Association of Nigeria (MOAN) is hereby directed to immediately sensitize all its members on this directive, which takes effect from today, Saturday, June 13, 2026.
8. In addition, all markets located along the affected corridors shall remain closed until further notice. Mobile medicine vendors and distributors are also directed to suspend the transportation and sale of drugs on motorcycles within the affected areas for the duration of the operation.
9. Furthermore, the sale of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and Automotive Gas Oil (Diesel) in jerricans is hereby prohibited across the entirety of Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area with immediate effect.
10. As part of measures to strengthen security across the state and deny criminal elements the opportunity to operate under the cover of darkness, the Kogi State Government hereby announces a ban on night travel on all state-owned roads across Kogi State. Consequently, all movements on state roads must cease by 7:00 p.m. daily until further notice. Any person found travelling on a state-owned road after 7:00 p.m. shall be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
11. The Kogi State Government wishes to reiterate that it possesses credible intelligence regarding individuals collaborating with criminal elements and providing support to their activities. Appropriate actions are already being taken against such persons in line with extant laws.
12. While the Government acknowledges that these measures may impose temporary inconveniences on law-abiding citizens, the protection of lives and communities remains paramount. Extraordinary security challenges often require difficult but necessary decisions, and these directives are designed solely to safeguard the people and secure lasting peace across the affected areas. The Government wishes to assure residents that the security situation will be reviewed every two weeks to assess the impact of these measures and determine the appropriate next line of action regarding the restrictions, based on the progress and successes recorded by security agencies in ongoing operations.
13. The Executive Governor of Kogi State, His Excellency Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, has directed all security agencies to ensure strict enforcement of these measures and full compliance by all residents and stakeholders.
14. The Government further warns that any individual found aiding, supplying, harbouring or collaborating with terrorists in any form shall be treated as an accomplice to terrorism and prosecuted accordingly.
15. The Kogi State Government calls on residents to cooperate fully with security agencies, remain vigilant and continue to provide credible information that will assist ongoing operations aimed at permanently eliminating criminal elements from the state.
(vitalnewsngr.com)
