Ebiraland Before 2016: From the Grip of Terror to a Renewed Era of Security Under Yahaya Bello

A Theatre of Fear, Bloodshed and Lawlessness

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Before 2016, Ebiraland in Kogi Central stood as one of the most volatile and distressing security landscapes in North-Central Nigeria. The area, comprising Okene, Adavi, Okehi, and Ajaokuta, was widely associated with a disturbing wave of kidnappings, armed robberies, assassinations, and coordinated attacks that left communities in a permanent state of fear.

It was an era in which normal life was disrupted, institutions were weakened, and virtually no segment of society, traditional, religious, or security, was spared.

The emergence of Yahaya Bello in 2016 marked a decisive turning point, introducing a structured and forceful security framework aimed at restoring order and rebuilding public confidence.

Prior to 2016, Ebiraland was widely regarded as a high-risk security zone due to the intensity and frequency of violent crimes.

The region experienced:
• Persistent kidnapping of commuters, traders, and civil servants
• Recurrent armed robberies, including coordinated bank attacks
• Political assassinations and gang-related violence
• The killing of traditional rulers (Taru), which deeply undermined cultural authority

However, the crisis extended beyond politics and tradition, it became a full-scale assault on religion, culture, and security institutions.

In one of the darkest periods in the history of Kogi Central:
• Churches were bombed and Christian worship centres attacked
• Christian clerics were assassinated and kidnapped, creating widespread fear among Christian communities
• Islamic clerics were also not spared, with respected scholars killed in targeted attacks
• Security operatives, including police officers and DSS personnel, were ambushed and killed in the line of duty
• Custodians of masquerades and cultural heritage were also killed across Ebiraland, weakening traditional identity and community cohesion

Across the region, no institution remained untouched.

Security reports from the period further revealed:
• Dozens of bank robberies between 2011 and 2015, especially in Okene axis
• An estimated 20–25 kidnapping cases monthly at the peak of the crisis
• Repeated attacks on police stations and security formations, exposing severe operational weakness
• The existence of criminal enclaves in forested areas used as kidnapping bases

Ebiraland, once known for commerce, resilience, and cultural pride, became a region defined by fear, silence, and survival.

When Yahaya Bello assumed office in January 2016, he inherited what was widely described as a full-scale internal security emergency.

His administration responded not with rhetoric, but with a multi-dimensional and operational security overhaul.

1. Declaration of Total War on Criminal Networks

Security was immediately prioritized as a central governance pillar, with a sustained war declared against kidnapping, armed robbery, and violent crime.

2. Community-Based Security Architecture

A major innovation of the administration was grassroots participation:
• Over 3,500–4,500 vigilantes and local hunters were mobilized
• Communities became active partners in intelligence gathering
• A whistle-blower reward system encouraged exposure of criminal hideouts

3. Offensive Operations Against Criminal Strongholds

Security forces launched coordinated operations:
• Forest-based criminal camps were dismantled
• Hundreds of suspects were arrested
• Numerous kidnapped victims were rescued alive

4. Technology-Driven Security Reform

The introduction of surveillance systems improved:
• Real-time threat monitoring
• Rapid emergency response
• Inter-agency coordination

5. Highway Security Restoration Strategy
   • Systematic bush clearing removed ambush zones
   • Increased patrol visibility across highways
   • Restoration of safer interstate movement
6. Strengthening Security Logistics
   • Provision of vehicles and operational support
   • Enhanced collaboration with the Army, Police, and DSS
   • Establishment of forward operational bases

The results of these interventions were both visible and widely acknowledged:
• Kidnapping reduced from about 20–25 monthly cases to isolated incidents
• Armed robbery, including bank attacks, declined drastically
• Previously deserted communities began to recover economically and socially
• Traditional rulers, religious leaders, and cultural custodians regained safety and authority
• Public fear significantly reduced, restoring freedom of movement

Ebiraland gradually transitioned from a conflict-prone region to one experiencing relative peace and stability.

In recognition of improved security coordination and outcomes, Yahaya Bello received commendations from security stakeholders, including engagements with national security leadership such as the Nigeria Police Force.

These acknowledgements reflected improvements in:
• Crime reduction and intelligence efficiency
• Community policing integration
• Inter-agency collaboration
• Strengthened operational security support

The story of Ebiraland is one of dramatic contrast, from an era where no institution was safe, to a phase where structured intervention restored order and confidence.

Before 2016, insecurity spared no one: traditional rulers, Islamic clerics, Christian clerics, security operatives, and cultural custodians were all victims of a collapsing security environment. Afterward, a coordinated and sustained response reshaped the narrative.

The administration of Yahaya Bello remains associated with:
• Aggressive security intervention policies
• Community-driven policing strategies
• Restoration of religious, cultural, and institutional safety
• Measurable improvements in public security perception

While security challenges are never completely eliminated, the transformation recorded during this period remains a defining milestone in Kogi State’s governance history.

– Comrade Danfulani Lukman Ohinoyi
(Public Affairs Analyst & Security Commentator)

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