Youths Block Federal Highway in Egbe Over Rising Kidnappings

By: Sunday Ameh

Residents of Egbe in Yagba West on Wednesday staged a protest, blocking the federal highway in anger over the persistent wave of kidnappings and killings affecting the community and neighbouring towns.

The demonstrators, mostly youths, barricaded the major road linking the area to other parts of Kogi State, grounding vehicular movement and demanding urgent intervention from security agencies and government authorities.

The protest followed months of insecurity in Egbe and surrounding communities, particularly those along the border corridor between Kogi and Kwara State. Residents allege that armed groups, locally described as bandits, have operated with little resistance, turning parts of the area into what they call a “killing field.”

Tension escalated on Tuesday after gunmen attacked a resident, Juwon Ajisafe, in the Bareke area of Egbe. Eyewitnesses said the assailants shot him at close range before fleeing the scene. Ajisafe, who was from Odo-Ere, was rushed to hospital but was later confirmed dead.

His killing sparked outrage among residents, with youths accusing authorities of failing to safeguard lives and property. Community members said repeated appeals to security agencies have not yielded lasting results, leaving many residents living in fear while some have reportedly fled their homes.

Earlier reports by Starnews NG indicated that another resident, Gbenga Akolo, was abducted along the volatile route between Egbe in Yagba West and Koro in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State. The kidnapping reportedly occurred on Tuesday while the victim was travelling along the border corridor.

Sources said the abduction was one of several violent incidents recorded in Yagba West within a 48-hour period, including sporadic shootings and the burning of vehicles along major transit routes such as the Egbe–Eruku road, the Egbe–Okunran axis, and communities around Odo-Ere and Bareke.

The latest protest underscores growing frustration among residents who say insecurity has disrupted daily life and commerce in the area. As of press time, authorities had not issued an official statement on the protest or outlined additional security measures to address the situation.