By Labaran G- Labaran
Protesting Youths of Bunu community in Kabba/ Bunu local government in Kogi state took to the streets of Kabba town, the headquarters of the council over claimed rising insecurity in their community.
The reports from the area on Friday noted that the youths blocked the busy Kabba -Obajana- Lokoja federal highway around 8.am to drive home their grievances in order to attract public attention.
The youth stated that the government at all levels have been dragging its feets in the rising insecurity challenge that bedeviled their communities for months .
They claimed that many residents have been killed, and several others held captive in the bush by their assailants.
In the process, vehicular movement on the busy Kabba-Obajana -Lokoja highway came to a standstill , forming a long processing of vehicles for hours at a stalking point.
According to the report , policemen were deployed to the scene by the power that be , and the protesting youths succumbed to their fire power in a confrontation that ensued, bringing the protest to an end .
The stakeholders of the community on 30th December 2025 raised issue of rising insecurity in their community at a press conference in Lokoja , to draw the attention of the public to their plight .
The Stakeholders include, president of Bunu Development Association (BDA),Pastor Kokawole Johnson Folorunshon, president of Bunu Elders Forum (BEF) , Professor Olu Obafemi who was represented by Elder Andrew Owonilepa, the national president of Bunu students who also double as youth leader of Bunu land, comrade Daniel Friday Aiyegboka and Bunuland woman leader, Mrs OluwaBumi Aromiyo ( represented by Evangelist Abigail Aledara ). Pastor Folorunshon noted that the situation started with sporadic attacks initially, but had snowballed into sustained violence marked by killings, kidnappings, terror raids and forced displacement of innocent citizens of the community.
The BDA president stressed further that the incessant bandits’ attack in their communities have killed 30 residents and sacked 21 villages ,with over 50 residents still under captivity, including 37 worshipers abducted at ECWA Church at Ayetoro Kiri. Equally, Professor Olu Obafemi who was represented by Elder Andrew Owonilepa stressed that the humanitarian crisis that hit their community need assistance of both the federal, state and local governments, including individual and corporate bodies , for peace to be restored .
“Farmers cannot access their farms, our people have deserted their ancestral land, and foreigners have taken over the farms , cultivating crops, and selling their produce to us . We need intervention of all”, he said .
However, the chairman of Kabba/Bunu Local Government Council, Barrister says the intervention of the security agencies became necessary due to the nature and implications of the protest on the major highways, including the Kabba–Lokoja–Abuja Road.
The chairman says that besides the inevitable traffic gridlock that may evolve, it exposed motorists to undue fatigue, security vulnerabilities, and economic disruptions, especially during this festive period when the volume of movement is significantly high.
Barrister Micheal added further that the security operatives had to put the protesters on check to avoid escalating into broader social and security challenges in the areas .
In the statement signed by Navo Jude Babatunde-Uyi, SSA on information, Communication and strategy, the chairman said : “The grief, frustration, and anguish of our people are fully understood and deeply shared by the government.
“However, the government and security agencies are duty-bound to oppose any form of protest that threatens public safety, social stability, and the collective interest of the wider population.
“We therefore urge the general public to remain calm and law-abiding, and to be assured that the government at all levels is fully engaged, proactive, and unwavering in its commitment to guaranteeing peace and security for all residents of Kabba/Bunu Local Government, irrespective of where they live”.
The state government and the police authorities are yet to make a public statement over the incident.
