Kogi Insecurity: Oyo-Ita Women, Youths Protest Half-Naked Over Spate of Kidnappings

Fear and frustration boiled over in the Oyo-Ita community of Kogi State on Monday, as hundreds of women and youths staged a dramatic protest against the rising tide of insecurity in the area.

The demonstrators, some of whom were half-naked, blocked the road leading into their community, chanting solidarity songs and carrying placards with messages such as “Our people are victims of repeated kidnap” and “Oyo-Ita is sidelined for development.”

According to residents, the community has come under repeated attacks from suspected bandits, leading to killings and abductions that have forced many to flee their ancestral homes.

One of the recent incidents cited by the protesters was the abduction of Princess Ruth Owonibi, a prominent figure in the community. Protesters said the kidnapping was just one of many cases that have plunged Oyo-Ita into fear and instability.

“We can no longer sleep with our two eyes closed,” one protester lamented. “Our lives are no longer safe, and we feel abandoned by the government.”

The demonstrators appealed to both the federal and Kogi State governments, as well as to religious leaders and well-meaning Nigerians, to urgently intervene and restore peace to the community.

They warned that unless urgent steps are taken to address the situation, the community risks being completely wiped out.

The protest adds to the growing list of security concerns across various parts of Kogi State, as residents continue to call for stronger government action against banditry and other forms of criminality.