General News
RATTAWU Urges United Front as Kogi Battles Security Threats
Insecurity continues to rank among the gravest challenges confronting Nigeria, with banditry, kidnappings, and violent attacks endangering lives, livelihoods, and entire communities. Kogi State, strategically located at the nation’s center and sharing boundaries with ten states and the Federal Capital Territory, has in recent times become a flashpoint for such troubling incidents.
The Kogi State Government has stepped up efforts, partnering with security agencies, local hunters, and vigilante groups to restore peace. These initiatives demonstrate the seriousness of the state’s leadership in tackling insecurity. Yet, government action alone cannot guarantee safety. Security must be seen and embraced as a shared responsibility.
The Kogi State Council of the Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers’ Union of Nigeria (RATTAWU) stresses that the people themselves are central to the fight against crime. Communities know their environment best—they can quickly detect suspicious movements, strange faces, or unusual activities. Timely information from residents often makes the difference between preventing crimes and suffering their consequences. Silence, indifference, or complicity, however, emboldens criminal groups. Worse still, when individuals or communities shelter or supply bandits, they put not only themselves but their neighbors and the entire state at risk.
Security, RATTAWU notes, is like a chain—its strength depends on the unity of every link. If some communities actively collaborate with security forces while others protect criminals, overall efforts are weakened. Citizens must therefore step forward by volunteering credible intelligence, rejecting all forms of complicity with banditry, and standing firmly against lawlessness.
Government, for its part, must reinforce trust by ensuring fairness and transparency in law enforcement. Arrests must lead to credible investigations and impartial prosecutions. Justice delivered openly and without bias encourages communities to cooperate, knowing that their sacrifices and risks will not be in vain. Without justice, insecurity will persist.
Beyond law enforcement, addressing the root causes of insecurity is critical. Poverty, unemployment, and limited opportunities push many youths toward criminal gangs. Long-term solutions must involve investing in education, empowerment, and job creation to channel youthful energy into positive ventures rather than crime.
Kogi has shown before that collaboration works. Local hunters and vigilante groups, in partnership with security agencies, have dismantled kidnapping rings and restored confidence in farming and trading. These successes need to be replicated and expanded, with stronger communication and cooperation between government and grassroots communities. Security becomes most effective when people see themselves not merely as beneficiaries of protection but as active stakeholders in their own safety.
As a union in the communication and creative sector, RATTAWU also emphasizes the vital role of the media. Through radio, television, theater, and other platforms, the public can be sensitized on the dangers of aiding criminals, the importance of vigilance, and the power of unity in defending communities. Civil society groups too must continue advocacy, monitoring, and mobilization for collective action.
The challenges may be daunting, but Kogi State has always shown resilience. This is a call for renewed vigilance, trust, and solidarity. Parents, teachers, traditional rulers, religious leaders, and community elders all have roles to play in safeguarding peace. Government, on its part, must act decisively to protect lives and punish crime.
Insecurity thrives where silence prevails, but it collapses when people unite, speak up, and act. The message remains clear: security is not the responsibility of a few, but the duty of all.
This message is brought to you by the Kogi State Council of the Radio, Television and Theatre Arts Workers’ Union of Nigeria (RATTAWU).