Kogi bans night travel, restricts fuel sales to frustrate bandits’ activities
The Kogi State Government has announced a raft of security measures, including a ban on night travel on state-owned roads, restrictions on fuel sales, and the suspension of commercial motorcycle operations in parts of Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area, as part of efforts to cut off supply channels to bandits and other criminal elements.
In a statement on Saturday, the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, said the measures followed a review of ongoing security operations in Bunu District after a recent attack on Iluke community, which the government said was successfully repelled by security forces. According to the state government, several attackers were neutralised during the operation, while others sustained injuries and remain trapped in forested areas where security clearance operations are continuing.
To prevent the criminals from accessing food, medicine, fuel and other supplies, the government imposed an immediate ban on the use of commercial motorcycles, popularly known as okada, across designated hinterland routes in Bunu District. The affected areas include corridors linking Idoyi Bunu, Illah Bunu, Iluke Bunu, Kiri, Odai Bunu, Igbo Bunu, Ilogun Bunu, Olle Bunu, Ayede Bunu, Oke-Ofin Bunu, Edumo Bunu, Aherin, Eshi and Ighun Bunu.
The government said intelligence reports indicated that motorcycle operators had become a major channel for transporting logistics to bandits hiding in forests, while some criminal elements also use motorcycles to gather intelligence on communities before carrying out attacks.
It warned that any motorcycle rider found transporting passengers, goods or supplies along the designated routes would be arrested and prosecuted under the provisions of the Kogi State Anti-Terrorism Law. The Motorcycle Operators Association of Nigeria (MOAN) was directed to immediately sensitise its members on the new directive, which took effect on Saturday.
As part of the restrictions, all markets located within the affected corridors have been ordered shut until further notice, while mobile medicine vendors and distributors have been directed to suspend the transportation and sale of drugs on motorcycles in the affected areas.
The government also prohibited the sale of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) in jerrycans across Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area, saying the measure was necessary to prevent fuel supplies from reaching criminal groups.
“Consequently, all movements on state roads must cease by 7:00 p.m. daily until further notice. Any person found travelling on a state-owned road after 7:00 p.m. shall be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law,” the government stated.
