The Kogi State House of Assembly has called for the swift termination of hybrid vigilante organizations within the Kupa District of Lokoja Local Government Area. Legislators also mandated the retrieval of all weapons held by these groups following a violent confrontation that resulted in 12 fatalities and numerous injuries.
Speaker Aliyu Umar Yusuf introduced the motion, identifying the catalyst as an August 6 incident where a member of a hybrid group refused a security inspection and attacked community vigilantes. This initial skirmish resulted in the death of a Fulani vigilante, sparking a series of retaliatory raids. These attacks claimed three lives in Eguchidan, six in Emiku, and two in Abugi. Additionally, the Chief Imam of Kupa, Alhaji Gimba Aliyu, sustained injuries during the violence.
Addressing these events, the Assembly urged Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo to dismantle current vigilante frameworks in the district and secure all armaments. The Speaker further suggested that the Governor authorize the deployment of forest guards, ideally recruiting local residents with intimate knowledge of the region. While the lawmakers expressed appreciation for the prompt arrival of police and military forces, they requested additional personnel at the Abugi Divisional Police Office. The House concluded by urging security agencies to ramp up efforts against criminal elements sheltering in local forests and to conduct a full assessment of the damaged communities to ensure long-term stability.
