Police Fire Teargas As Kabba-Bunu Youths Protest Rising Insecurity, Abandoned Communities In Kogi

Lokoja,  Kogi State– Nigerian police officers on Friday dispersed youths from Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State who staged a protest over worsening insecurity and the abandonment of several communities in the area.

The youths, who took to the streets to express frustration over persistent killings and displacement, were teargassed by police officers while protesting along a major road in the area.

In a video obtained by Afrika Eyes the protesters were seen chanting solidarity songs and waving placards as they blocked the road to draw attention to their plight.

Some of the placards read, “Bunuland Bleeds” and “Why Should We Ask for Permission to Live?”

Speaking during the protest, one of the youths lamented the scale of destruction and displacement caused by insecurity in Bunuland.

“We have 44 communities in Bunuland. Those communities have been deserted. Communities like Kayetoro, Kiri, Ole, and others,” the protester said.

“The last time we had people killed in Ole, about three people were murdered. Since then, more people have been killed, and those communities are now completely deserted.

“There is nobody living there anymore. The police are here now, and instead of protecting us, they are shooting teargas at us.

“But we are resolute. We are not leaving here. We are resolute.”

Despite the peaceful nature of the protest, the demonstration was forcefully dispersed after police officers fired teargas canisters at the crowd, causing the youths to scatter.

Residents of Kabba-Bunu have repeatedly complained of attacks by armed groups, kidnappings, and killings, accusing the Kogi State Government and security agencies of failing to provide adequate protection for rural communities.