The Kogi State Government has directed the immediate but temporary closure of markets and motor parks in multiple communities across seven local government areas of Kogi West Senatorial District as security forces intensify operations to dislodge terrorists, bandits and other criminal groups operating in the region.
The directive, announced Sunday by the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, represents one of the most extensive economic restrictions imposed in recent memory as part of counter-insurgency efforts in the north-central state, which has faced persistent security challenges along its borders with neighbouring states and its vast forest reserves.
Fanwo explained that the shutdown is designed to deny insurgents and their collaborators access to food, fuel and other logistical supplies that sustain their operations, effectively cutting off the economic lifeline that enables criminal networks to operate within affected communities.
“This action is designed to restrict the movement of consumables and deny criminal elements and their informants the logistical support they rely on during security operations,” Fanwo said in the statement.
The commissioner disclosed that the measure is being implemented in support of ongoing clearance operations being conducted jointly with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and heads of security agencies deployed in Kogi State, signalling federal involvement in the security push.
The directive affects selected communities across Lokoja, Kabba-Bunu, Yagba West, Yagba East, Kogi, Mopamuro and Ijumu local government areas—all located within the Kogi West Senatorial District, which shares boundaries with Kwara, Ekiti and Ondo states and contains significant stretches of forest land that have historically provided cover for criminal elements.
In Lokoja Local Government Area, markets and motor parks in Oshokoshoko, Jakura, Ogbagbon, Agbaja, Atsawa, Obajana, Apata, Abugi, Amomi, Ebee and Budon have been shut down under the directive. Lokoja, the state capital, has witnessed sporadic security incidents, with criminal groups occasionally using peripheral communities as staging points.
The closure in Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area covers Ike Bunu, Aba Marian (Isado), Ofere, Abaa Dola (Ihale Bunu), Aiyede, Oke Offin, Aiyegunle Bunu, Okebukun, Odo Ape Bunu, Agbadu Bunu and Agbede Apa Bunu. Kabba-Bunu has been particularly vulnerable due to its proximity to forested areas that straddle state boundaries.
In Yagba West Local Government Area, affected communities include Okoloke, Isanlu Esa, Okunran, Ogbe, Ejiba, Odo Eri, Igbaruku, Iyamerin, Ogga, Omi, Odo Ara and Oke Ere. The area has experienced heightened insecurity in recent years, with reports of kidnappings and banditry along major routes.
Markets and motor parks in Yagba East Local Government Area—Irunda Ile, Iyeh Ilotin, Gada, Odogbe and Ilafin—have also been temporarily closed. Yagba East, like its western counterpart, has seen increased military and security presence as authorities respond to growing threats.
In Kogi Local Government Area, the directive applies to the rice market at Adingere, Koton Karfe, Okpareke and Girinya, as well as the okro market at Opanda and the perishable market at Edeha. The targeting of specific commodity markets reflects intelligence assessments about how criminal groups source supplies.
Markets and motor parks in Mopamuro Local Government Area, including Otafun Amuro, Oroke Amuro, Takete Ide Amuro, Okeagi, Illai, Ilemo and Ijagbe, are equally affected by the shutdown order. Mopamuro’s rural character and extensive farming communities have made it vulnerable to infiltration by armed groups.
Similarly, in Ijumu Local Government Area, the shutdown covers markets in Ayegunle Gbedde, Iyah Gbedde, Ayetoro Gbedde, Ayeh Gbedde, Iluhagba, Odokoro and Okoro. Ijumu shares boundaries with Ekiti State and has witnessed security incidents tied to cross-border criminal movements.
The strategy of closing markets and restricting economic activity to flush out insurgents is not new in Nigeria’s counter-insurgency playbook. Similar measures have been employed in the Northeast, particularly in Borno and Yobe states, where authorities have periodically shut markets and imposed movement restrictions to disrupt Boko Haram’s supply chains. However, the tactic remains controversial, as it also imposes significant economic hardship on law-abiding residents who depend on daily market activities for their livelihoods.
Kogi State, positioned at the geographical centre of Nigeria and bordered by ten states, has increasingly become a flashpoint for security challenges, including kidnapping, banditry, cultism and communal clashes. The state’s extensive forest reserves, particularly the Agbaja-Ajaokuta forest belt and forested areas along the Kogi-Kwara-Ekiti boundaries, have provided refuge for criminal groups, some of whom are believed to have links to broader insurgent networks operating in the Middle Belt and Northwest regions.
The Kogi West Senatorial District, in particular, has witnessed a surge in criminal activity over the past few years, with kidnappings along major highways, attacks on rural communities, and the occasional discovery of bodies in forest areas. Security agencies have conducted multiple operations in the zone, including joint military-police patrols and intelligence-driven raids, though the challenge has persisted due to the terrain and the porosity of state boundaries.
The collaboration with ONSA underscores the federal dimension of the security response. ONSA, under the leadership of Nuhu Ribadu, has been coordinating multi-agency operations across states grappling with insecurity, including efforts to dismantle criminal networks, rescue kidnap victims, and restore confidence in affected communities.
The Kogi State Government has assured residents that the market and motor park closures are strictly temporary and will be lifted immediately upon the successful conclusion of the ongoing security operations. However, the statement did not specify a timeline for the reopening, leaving traders and transport workers uncertain about the duration of the disruption.
The economic impact of the closures is expected to be significant, particularly for small-scale traders, artisans, and transporters who rely on daily earnings. Market associations and transport unions have yet to issue public statements on the directive, though local reports suggest anxiety among affected populations.
Critics of such tactics argue that while they may temporarily disrupt criminal logistics, they also punish innocent civilians and risk alienating communities whose cooperation is essential for effective intelligence gathering. Proponents, however, contend that decisive action is necessary to break the cycle of violence and restore normalcy.
Kogi State has been under the leadership of Governor Usman Ododo, who assumed office in January 2024 following a contentious election. Ododo, who served as Auditor-General under former Governor Yahaya Bello, has pledged to prioritise security and infrastructure development. The current security crackdown represents one of the most visible actions of his administration in response to persistent insecurity.
