A socio-cultural group, “Apapo Omo Yagba,” in Kogi State, has said that the exploration of mineral resources in their land is posing a serious security challenge to Yagbaland. They say that the government must strengthen the security system in the area urgently.
According to the group, Apapo Omo Yagba is an organisation formed to champion the well-being of the people of Yagbaland, which consists of Yagba West local government, Yagba East local government and Mopamuro local government of the state.
This position was contained in a communique issued by the Apapo Omo Yagba at the end of the Apapo Yagba Summit, which was Tagged “Unity Summit 2025.” It was held over the weekend at the community town hall in Mopa.
The communique which was jointly signed by Engr. Ayodele Osasona, chairman and Hon. Prince Philip Orebiyi, secretary AOY Unity Summit, 2025 Organizing Committee, appealed to the local government council chairmen in Yagba land to synergize their efforts, compare notes and work with the conventional security agencies to fight insecurity in the area.
The communique read in part, “It is also important to have a separate account for security trust funds and put a strategy in place to make the collection and spending of such funds transparent.
“The committee strategy will include getting more people that are not in AOY platform to key in, especially those commercial drivers and farmers that are mostly hit by the activities of these criminals.
“It was further resolved that Apapo Omo YAGBA should give support to our local hunters and other security agents for effectiveness and efficiency. It is also important to have a separate account for security trust funds and put a strategy in place to make the collection and spending of such funds transparent.
“The summit agreed that the terrible state of Federal Roads in Yagba land is no longer acceptable and that all elected and appointed political office holders in conjunction with Yagba sons and daughters with capacity should immediately interface with relevant agencies of government to ensure that our roads are fixed.
Regarding infrastructural development lapses, the summit also called on political officeholders, civil servants, business moguls, and relevant personalities to intensify lobbying for the establishment of a Federal presence in Yagba land, such as universities and polytechnics, and the establishment of branches of Federal agencies in Yagbaland.
