Kogi news this week spans Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s revenue reforms and grassroots empowerment drives, a deepening EFCC trial of former Governor Yahaya Bello before two Abuja courts, escalating military operations against kidnappers in Igalamela/Odolu forests, and a cost-of-living picture that has improved on paper but still bites hard at Lokoja market stalls. Here is what has happened, where each case stands, and what Kogi residents are saying about it.
Governance: The Ododo Administration’s Latest Moves
Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has spent his first months in office pushing revenue reform, workers’ welfare, and agricultural investment, while his party consolidated political control by sweeping all 21 local government chairmanship seats in the October 17, 2026 council elections. The administration’s headline achievement on the fiscal front came from an independent ranking: BudgIT’s 2026 State of States report placed Kogi third among 35 states on Pillar A (Revenue Performance), behind only Lagos and Bauchi, with a score of 60.86. According to Tribune Online’s reporting on the report, Kogi’s internally generated revenue rose from approximately N27.73 billion in 2024 to N43.94 billion in 2025, based on National Bureau of Statistics data.
Revenue Laws and Financial Reforms
In January 2026, Ododo signed two pieces of legislation aimed at overhauling the state’s tax administration: the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service (Establishment) Law and the Kogi State Taxes and Levies (Approved List for Collection) Law. The laws are designed to harmonize tax collection, introduce digital systems, and reduce leakages. Ododo has publicly emphasized that revenue growth should strengthen the state’s capacity to meet obligations without imposing unnecessary burdens on residents. It is worth noting that BudgIT’s third-place ranking covers the Revenue Performance pillar specifically, not the state’s overall fiscal ranking.
Workers’ Welfare: Salaries, Pensions, and Minimum Wage
The Ododo administration claims to have cleared the backlog of salaries and pensions owed by the previous government. According to the Special Adviser to the Governor on Labour Matters, Comrade Onuh Edoka, the state now commits N150 million monthly to the Pension Commission, amounting to approximately N1.8 billion annually. Edoka, a former NLC chairman in Kogi, made these claims during a courtesy visit to NLC President Joe Ajaero in Abuja, as reported by Tribune Online. He also said Kogi was among the first states to implement the new national minimum wage and introduced a two-year tax exemption on the wage increase.
However, organized labour in the state has presented a more nuanced picture. At the 2026 Workers’ Day celebration in Lokoja, NLC Kogi State Chairman Comrade Gabriel Amari described the relationship with government as “harmonious” and praised prompt salary payments and pension harmonization, but also called for the reinstatement of 441 civil servants cleared by the Civil Service Commission, fresh recruitment to address manpower shortages, affordable housing schemes, and improved mass transit. The gap between the administration’s claims and labour’s demands reflects the ongoing tension between what has been achieved and what workers say remains unaddressed.
Agriculture, Investment, and the Free Trade Zone Vision
On November 2, 2026, Ododo announced progress on the proposed Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ), stating that Kogi had fulfilled most requirements and was awaiting approval from the African Development Bank (AfDB) board. During an engagement with the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), he described the initiative as a move beyond raw commodity production toward processing and value addition. Ododo also disclosed that President Bola Tinubu had approved the construction of an international airport in Kogi State, intended to complement the processing zone by facilitating agricultural exports.
The same week, Ododo positioned Kogi as a future West African trade hub at the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS) Sensitization Workshop in Lokoja, where he unveiled plans for an Ajaokuta Free Trade Zone. He was represented by Deputy Governor Comrade Joel Salifu Oyibo, who highlighted Kogi’s strategic location at the confluence of the Niger and Benue rivers. On November 4, 2026, Ododo commissioned the Imperium Palatium Hotel in Lokoja and urged private investors, particularly Kogi indigenes in the diaspora, to bring their businesses to the state, assuring them of security and infrastructure support. These initiatives mirror broader federal efforts to boost infrastructure, as seen in the federal government’s push to clear stranded power equipment at the ports.
Grassroots Empowerment in Ejule
On November 5, 2026, Ododo distributed motorcycles and N50,000 cash support to over 1,000 youths and petty traders across Kogi East Senatorial District at a programme in Ejule, Ofu Local Government Area. According to the Kogi State Government website, the governor used the occasion to appreciate the people of Ofu for their support and assured them that his administration had not neglected the area. The empowerment programme is one of several the administration has organized in its first year, part of a broader strategy to build goodwill at the grassroots level ahead of the 2027 elections.
The EFCC-Yahaya Bello Case: Where Things Stand
Former Governor Yahaya Bello is facing two separate criminal trials in Abuja, both instituted by the EFCC, alleging financial misconduct totaling hundreds of billions of naira during his tenure as governor from January 2016 to January 2024. The cases have moved slowly through the courts, drawing public frustration, and Bello has simultaneously secured the APC ticket to contest the Kogi Central senatorial seat in the 2027 elections, a move that has intensified scrutiny of both the anti-graft agency and the judicial process.
The N110.4 Billion Case Before Justice Maryanne Anenih
Before Justice Maryanne Anenih of the FCT High Court in Maitama, Bello is being prosecuted alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu on a 16-count charge of alleged criminal breach of trust and money laundering involving N110.4 billion. The defendants have pleaded not guilty. Prosecution counsel is Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), while J. B. Daudu (SAN) appears for Bello and Oricha.
On October 15, 2026, the 19th prosecution witness, bureau de change operator Jamilu Abdullahi, testified that between December 15, 2021, and February 21, 2022, he facilitated foreign exchange transactions worth N1.425 billion on behalf of Abba Adaudu, an associate of Bello. According to an EFCC press release reported by AIT, Abdullahi said he delivered purchased US dollars to Adaudu and facilitated school fee payments to the American International School, Abuja, for children whose payment details were provided by Adaudu. Under cross-examination, Abdullahi said he had no direct dealings with any of the defendants and could not recall the exact total he handed to Adaudu.
On October 27, 2026, the 20th prosecution witness, EFCC operative John Justice, told the court how investigators traced funds from Kogi local government accounts through three companies to Keyless Nature Limited, which he said was linked to Abba Adaudu. Justice testified that CCTV footage obtained from Access Bank and Zenith Bank showed customers were not physically taking cash out of the banks, despite transactions recorded as cash withdrawals. He described the transactions as “in-and-out” operations, where a customer presents a withdrawal cheque and a deposit slip bearing a different account number. Justice Anenih admitted several exhibits, including bank statements and the witness’s extrajudicial statement, and adjourned the case to November 24, December 2, and December 8, 2026, for continuation.
The N80.2 Billion Case Before Justice Emeka Nwite
Separately, before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja, Bello faces a 19-count charge of alleged money laundering involving N80,246,470,088.88. The EFCC alleges that funds belonging to the Kogi State Government and local government councils were diverted and laundered through various transactions and property acquisitions. This case has seen its own procedural complications. In a third, related matter involving Ali Bello, the former governor’s nephew, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court recused himself after concerns arose over alleged tampering with a key exhibit, a mobile phone said to contain WhatsApp messages. The case file was returned to the Chief Judge for reassignment.
EFCC Says It Is Being “Harassed” Over the Case
On November 5, 2026, EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale told journalists at a joint press briefing of security agency spokesmen that the commission has been facing public harassment over the Bello cases. According to Daily Trust, Oyewale said: “They continually harass us about Yahaya Bello. And we’ve charged the matter to court, the matter is in two different courts. And we are going to court, we wait for the judiciary to decide the matter.” He emphasized that the EFCC’s mandate covers investigation, prosecution, and prevention, but not adjudication. “We cannot be the accuser and the judge in our own matter,” he said.
The comment echoes a January 2026 statement by EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede, who said: “I have arrested Yahaya Bello, charged him to court, and the case is now in court. Nigerians should tell the judge to do his work.” That remark drew criticism, with many questioning what practical role citizens could play in influencing judicial proceedings. One social media user, Hephzibah Behulah, captured the sentiment: “Public frustration isn’t about doubting that the case is ‘in court’. It’s about the pattern Nigerians have seen for decades: big men get charged with fanfare, then everything quietly drags on forever while smaller suspects get swift hammer.”
Bello’s Senatorial Ambition and Public Backlash
The EFCC cases reentered public debate after Bello secured the APC nomination for the Kogi Central senatorial seat, setting up a contest with incumbent Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of the PDP. When INEC confirmed Bello’s name on the candidate list in September 2026, social media erupted. Daniel Regha wrote on X: “Hope the @officialEFCC chairman is proud of himself for doing absolutely nothing at the end of the day. After all the wanted poster and brags, look at an alleged criminal contesting.” Salaudeen Adisa added: “Honestly, this one fit make person ask wetin all the EFCC noise was about. If he can contest after everything wey happen, then people go naturally question the whole process.”
Others defended the legal principle at stake. Nathaniel Agada responded: “They’ll tell you that he’s innocent until he’s convicted by a court of law. Leave Nigeria matter and face your life.” During a campaign visit to the palace of the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland in late August 2026, Bello declared that he would fight corruption and end it if elected to the Senate, a statement that critics found ironic given the pending charges against him. The existence of allegations or pending criminal proceedings does not, by itself, amount to a conviction, and Bello remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty. That legal reality, however, has not quieted the public frustration.
The political dimension of this case echoes broader debates about governance and accountability that we have covered at Headline Hubs, including discussions about political sacrifice and public service in Nigerian politics.
Security Incidents and State Response
Kogi State has experienced a persistent wave of kidnappings along its highway corridors and forest routes, particularly in Ofu, Igalamela/Odolu, Kabba-Bunu, and Dekina Local Government Areas. The Nigerian Army’s 12 Composite Brigade, under the newly established 5 Division, has intensified operations in recent weeks, reporting the killing of at least five suspected kidnappers between November 2 and November 4, 2026, in the Edimogbo and Obele forest areas of Igalamela/Odolu LGA.
Forest Raids: November 2026 Operations
According to a statement by Lieutenant Hassan Abdullahi, Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations for the 12 Composite Brigade, troops conducted a raid on Edimogbo Forest on November 2, 2026, destroying a kidnappers’ camp and recovering approximately 1,000 rounds of 7.62mm x 54 ammunition, seven bandoliers, six motorcycles, and other items. A follow-up operation on November 3 led to a gun battle in which two suspects were killed and two AK-47 rifles were recovered. On November 4, troops operating with the Kogi State Vigilance Service (KSVS) killed three more suspects in the Obele Forest area, recovering four AK-47 rifles, 12 magazines, and 336 rounds of ammunition. Vanguard reported that the Commander of 12 Composite Brigade, Brigadier General Kasim Umar Sidi, commended the joint team and urged sustained operations.
Earlier Incidents: NYSC Abduction and Highway Attacks
The security situation drew national attention on August 26, 2026, when armed men blocked two buses near the Ogene Zaria/Onicha-Igo Junction along the Aloma-Egane Expressway in Ofu LGA, abducting passengers including NYSC members travelling from Bayelsa State to Abuja. The Kogi State Police Command, through spokesperson Saliu Afusat, confirmed the rescue of 11 victims, including both drivers, during a coordinated search operation. Some victims remained in captivity as the search continued. Earlier in August, the Army reported the rescue of 16 victims near Adumu in Dekina LGA after a gun battle that killed one local hunter and injured a police officer.
In March 2026, The Guardian reported that gunmen killed one person and abducted 13 others across multiple attacks in Kogi communities, including an ambush on traders travelling to Obolo-Affor market in Enugu State. The leadership of the Kogi East Neighborhood Watch (KENW) said at the time: “Kidnapping cases are occurring almost daily. We are overwhelmed and urgently need reinforcement to comb the forests and secure the release of the victims.” In Yagba West LGA, Chairman Tosin Olokun imposed an indefinite dusk-to-dawn curfew to curb criminal activity.
The Scale of the Problem
According to OpenWatch, an incident-tracking platform, Kogi State has recorded 332 reported kidnapping incidents all-time, with 70 in the last 12 months and 33 fatalities in that period. The platform notes that reported numbers are a floor, not a census, as incidents in remote areas are routinely under-reported. On October 26, 2026, troops of Operation Whirl Stroke, working with DSS operatives, rescued six kidnap victims in Kabba-Bunu LGA, including a student of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, who had been abducted on October 18. The suspected kidnappers fled before troops made contact.
| Date | Location | Incident | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2-4, 2026 | Edimogbo/Obele Forest, Igalamela/Odolu LGA | 5 suspects killed, 6 AK-47s recovered | NAN / Vanguard |
| Oct 31, 2026 | Adankolo-Apata Road, Kabba-Bunu/Lokoja | 2 suspected bandits found dead, pistol recovered | Operation Whirl Stroke |
| Oct 26, 2026 | Kabba-Bunu LGA | 6 victims rescued, including naval officer | Zagazola Makama |
| Aug 26, 2026 | Aloma-Egane Expressway, Ofu LGA | 11 NYSC members/passengers rescued | Kogi Police Command |
| Mar 4-5, 2026 | Egabada/Okabo, Ofu & Idah LGAs | 1 killed, 13 abducted across multiple attacks | The Guardian |
Cost of Living: Market Prices and Public Sentiment
Kogi State’s inflation data tells a story of significant improvement from the peaks of mid-2026, but residents in Lokoja say the day-to-day reality at filling stations, gas outlets, and market stalls remains difficult. The numbers show a sharp decline in the rate of price increases, yet individual prices for many essentials remain well above what households were paying a year ago.
Inflation Data: From 53% to Single Digits
In June 2026, Kogi recorded the highest food inflation rate in Nigeria at 53.02 percent year-on-year, far above the national average of 17.52 percent, according to NBS data reported by BusinessDay. By August 2026, the state’s headline inflation had fallen to 5.4 percent, with food inflation at 8.2 percent, according to Nairametrics’ reporting of NBS figures. As of September 2026, NBS data compiled by State Integrity put Kogi’s headline inflation at 7.46 percent (year-on-year) and food inflation at 8.57 percent, the 9th lowest among the 36 states and the FCT. These figures measure the rate of annual price increases, not absolute prices. A declining rate means the pace of increase has slowed, but individual products can still become more expensive.
Petrol, Cooking Gas, and Transport in Lokoja
As of September 2026, residents of Lokoja reported petrol selling at between N1,430 and N1,500 per litre at filling stations across the metropolis. Africa 247 quoted civil servant Akpala Tijani saying the rising cost of petrol was putting additional pressure on workers who spend more on daily transportation. Market woman Ramota Ajakura said the increase was also affecting the prices of goods as traders and transporters spent more to move products. NBS data shows the average petrol price in Kogi was N1,534.32 per litre in May 2026, compared to N986.67 a year earlier.
Cooking gas has added another layer of strain. According to NAN reporting carried by Moneycentral on October 8, 2026, several gas outlets in Lokongoma and surrounding areas were either out of stock or selling at higher prices. At Yakmoha Ltd. on Crusher Road, the cashier, Promise Olise, said the outlet had been without gas since Monday and that the price had risen from N1,250 to N1,300 per kilogramme before stock ran out. At NIPCO Filling Station, manager Amaka Okafor confirmed the price had risen from N1,470 to N1,500. Customer Daniel Faruna said he visited multiple locations without success: “I went somewhere, but they said they did not have gas to sell. I went to Gadumo and they did not have it.” Another customer, Abdulrahman Omide, noted that charcoal prices had also risen: “If you calculate the money spent on charcoal, it is almost the same as buying a kilogramme of gas. Gas is easier to use.”
Food Prices: What the Data Shows
The Bureau Journal, citing NBS Selected Food Price Watch data, compared national average retail prices for key staples between May 2025 and May 2026. The data shows significant price declines for some items, while others continued to rise. These are national averages, not Kogi-specific market prices, but they provide a benchmark for tracking food cost trends.
| Food Item (1kg unless noted) | May 2025 | May 2026 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brown beans | N2,385.15 | N1,344.93 | Down |
| White garri | N1,341.79 | N813.24 | Down |
| Yellow garri | N1,438.26 | N865.41 | Down |
| White maize | N1,216.55 | N815.83 | Down |
| Local rice (short-grain) | N2,095.29 | N1,905.43 | Slight drop |
| Boneless beef | N6,662.92 | N7,171.41 | Up |
| Fresh catfish | N5,613.44 | N6,118.83 | Up |
| Ripe plantain | N2,079.84 | N2,210.24 | Up |
| Palm oil (75cl) | N2,475.08 | N2,396.62 | Slight drop |
Source: NBS Selected Food Price Watch, as compiled by The Bureau Journal. National average retail prices, not Kogi-specific.
While staples like garri and beans have become cheaper on a national average basis, protein items including beef, catfish, and plantain have continued to rise. The cost-of-living pressure in Kogi exists alongside similar challenges nationwide, as reflected in our earlier coverage of Atiku Abubakar’s comparison of petrol prices across oil-producing nations and the broader debate about fuel costs and household budgets.
Around Kogi: Local Government and Community Briefs
APC Sweeps October 17 Council Elections
On Saturday, October 17, 2026, Kogi State conducted local government council elections across all 21 LGAs and 239 electoral wards. KOSIEC Chairman Hon. Mamman Nda Eri announced the results on October 18, declaring that the All Progressives Congress (APC) won all 21 chairmanship seats and all 239 councillorship positions. Eri stated that the elections were conducted under the Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission Law, 2025, and the Electoral Act, 2022, and that 12 political parties were cleared to participate. He said no petition challenging the electoral process was received before or during the election.
The opposition has challenged this narrative. The unanimous sweep drew comparisons to contested local elections in other states, and critics on social media questioned the credibility of a process that produced a one-party outcome across 3,508 polling units. One X user, @ejikemichael8, wrote: “Kogi people will continue to suffer because of their low IQ. A state with a lot of raw materials is one of the underdeveloped states in Nigeria. And they’ll still elect criminals as governors and senators. I pity the people of Kogi state.” While the comment reflects personal frustration rather than an objective assessment, it captures the depth of public skepticism.
Video of Armed APC Youths Surfaces
Ahead of the council polls, a video circulated on social media showing youths dressed in APC campaign shirts parading with firearms and firing shots into the air. ValidView Network reported on October 17, 2026, that the footage drew condemnation from Nigerians who saw it as evidence of the militarization of politics in Kogi State. One social media user wrote: “If you can parade with guns and fire shots in the name of a political party, then what is the security agency doing? This is a threat to democracy.” KOSIEC did not comment on the video, and the police had not responded at the time of reporting. The APC leadership in Kogi has not issued a formal response to the specific incident shown in the video.
Administration Officials Tout Election as “Microphone Testing”
Not all reactions were critical. The Commissioner for Solid Minerals and Natural Resources, Engr. Bashiru Abubakar Gegu, hailed the elections as a model of grassroots democracy, stating: “What happened yesterday was APC testing the microphone. The massive turnout, the peace, the orderliness and the overwhelming acceptance of our party at the grassroots is a foretaste of what is to come in January and beyond for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and for Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo.” Governor Ododo himself, speaking after voting at Ukpokoro/Odenku ward in Okene LGA, commended KOSIEC for what he called a free, fair, and credible process and attributed the large turnout to the enabling environment created by his administration.
The contrasting accounts, a ruling party celebrating a peaceful sweep and critics pointing to a viral video of armed party supporters, illustrate the contested nature of Kogi’s political landscape. With the 2027 general elections approaching and Yahaya Bello’s senatorial candidacy adding fuel to an already charged atmosphere, the state’s political and judicial stories are set to remain intertwined in the coming months.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the EFCC cases against Yahaya Bello?
Yahaya Bello faces two separate trials in Abuja. Before Justice Maryanne Anenih of the FCT High Court in Maitama, he and two co-defendants face a 16-count charge of alleged criminal breach of trust and money laundering involving N110.4 billion. Before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, he faces a 19-count charge of alleged money laundering involving N80.2 billion. Both cases are ongoing, and Bello has pleaded not guilty. He is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
When is the next court date in the Yahaya Bello EFCC trial?
Justice Maryanne Anenih adjourned the N110.4 billion case to November 24, December 2, and December 8, 2026, for continuation of the trial. The Federal High Court case before Justice Emeka Nwite follows a separate schedule.
What is Governor Ododo’s revenue performance ranking?
According to BudgIT’s 2026 State of States report, Kogi ranked third among 35 states on the Revenue Performance pillar (Pillar A), with a score of 60.86, behind Lagos and Bauchi. This ranking covers revenue performance specifically, not the state’s overall fiscal position.
What is the security situation in Kogi State in 2026?
Kogi has experienced persistent kidnappings, particularly along highway corridors and forest routes in Ofu, Igalamela/Odolu, Kabba-Bunu, and Dekina LGAs. The Nigerian Army’s 12 Composite Brigade has conducted multiple operations in November 2026, killing at least five suspected kidnappers and recovering weapons. OpenWatch has recorded 70 reported kidnapping incidents in the state over the past 12 months.
What is the inflation rate in Kogi State?
According to NBS data, Kogi’s headline inflation was 7.46 percent year-on-year as of September 2026, with food inflation at 8.57 percent. This marks a significant decline from June 2026, when Kogi recorded the highest food inflation in the country at 53.02 percent. However, declining inflation rates mean the pace of price increases has slowed, not that prices have returned to previous levels.
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