Kogi Governor Orders Demolition of Sambel Facility in Okene Over Criminal Takeover

…..As Idoji community braces for action as security forces move in on bandits’ hideout

By Yahaya Idris, Kogi

Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State has directed the immediate demolition of the Sambel Facility in Idoji, Okene Local Government Area, after credible intelligence revealed that criminal elements had seized the site and converted it into a major hideout for nefarious activities.

The decisive order, announced Thursday morning by the state government, underscores the Ododo administration’s zero-tolerance stance on banditry and insecurity plaguing parts of Kogi’s Central Senatorial District.

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Sources within the governor’s office confirmed to our correspondent that the facility, originally built as a multipurpose industrial setup for local processing and storage, had fallen into disuse before being overrun by suspected bandits, kidnappers, and other hoodlums in recent months.

“Intelligence reports indicated that the abandoned Sambel Facility had become a den for criminal gangs operating across Okene and neighbouring areas,” a top security aide to the governor told journalists on condition of anonymity.

“They were using it to stockpile arms, plan attacks, and even hold victims captive. The governor’s directive is to neutralize this threat swiftly and send a strong message that Kogi will not tolerate such lawlessness.”

The Sambel Facility, located in the hilly terrain of Idoji, a strategic spot along major routes linking Kogi to Nasarawa and the Federal Capital Territory, had long been eyed by residents as a eyesore and security risk.

Community leaders in Okene, including the Okene Local Government Chairman, Alhaji Zakariyu Sanni, welcomed the move, describing it as “long overdue.”

“We have suffered enough from these criminals hiding in plain sight,” Sanni said during a brief press briefing. ” The facility’s demolition will restore peace to Idoji and deter others from turning our land into a crime zone. The governor has our full support.”

Security operatives from the Kogi State Command of the Nigeria Police Force, supported by personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and local vigilantes, were already mobilizing at the site by midday.

Eyewitnesses reported heavy vehicular movement, with bulldozers and excavators being positioned for the demolition exercise, expected to commence within 24 hours pending full evacuation of any remaining threats.

This action comes amid heightened security concerns in Okene, which has witnessed sporadic incidents of kidnapping and armed robbery in the past year.

Governor Ododo, who assumed office in January 2024 amid promises to tackle insecurity head-on, has ramped up kinetic operations, including joint task forces and community policing initiatives. Just last month, similar intelligence-led raids in Adavi and Okehi LGAs led to the arrest of over 20 suspects and recovery of weapons.

Critics, however, have raised concerns about the facility’s original purpose and potential economic loss. The Sambel project, initiated under previous administrations as part of efforts to boost agro-industrial development in Kogi, aimed to support small-scale enterprises in grain milling and storage.

“Demolition is necessary for security, but we must rebuild something better,” said Comrade Musa Ibrahim, a youth leader from Idoji.

“Idoji needs jobs, not just ruins.”The Kogi State Commissioner for Environment, Mohammed AbdulRahman, assured that post-demolition assessments would pave the way for a secure redevelopment plan, possibly repurposing the land for community farming or a vigilante outpost.

As heavy machinery rumbled into position, residents of Idoji expressed cautious optimism. “We’re tired of living in fear,” one trader, Mama Aisha, told our correspondent. “If this ends the hideouts, Governor Ododo has our prayers.”

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The state government urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities, while emphasizing that the operation would be thorough to prevent any resurgence of criminal occupation.

Kogi State, under Ododo’s watch, continues its push for a safer environment, with this demolition marking yet another bold step in the fight against banditry.