NOA Launches Campaign Against Kidnapping, Urges Religious and Traditional Leaders’ Support in Kogi

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has called for increased collaboration with traditional rulers, religious leaders, and community stakeholders in Kogi State as part of a renewed nationwide campaign aimed at curbing kidnapping and other social vices. The call was made on Thursday during a stakeholders’ meeting at the NOA office in Lokoja, as part of the agency’s national campaign titled “Pathway to National Cohesion, Unity and Development.”

Speaking at the meeting, the Acting State Director of NOA in Kogi, Mr. Patrick Edogbanya, who was represented by Pastor Augustine Mayowa Ogbonnikan, Assistant Director and Head of Civic Values and Democracy Education, described insecurity and moral decay as major threats to national stability. “Kidnapping, banditry, and youth restiveness are symptoms of a deeper erosion of values. We believe religious leaders and traditional rulers are well-positioned to help reverse this trend,” he said.

Ogbonnikan, who also delivered a presentation during the event, attributed the rise of social vices to widespread attitudinal problems and a breakdown in moral values, noting that efforts to rebuild society must begin with civic education and ethical reorientation at the grassroots level.

According to him, the campaign is designed to foster national unity while addressing the root causes of crime, such as unemployment, weak family structures, and poor community engagement.

“The nation’s strength lies in the values and conduct of its people. Our goal is to use this platform to mobilise Nigerians, especially in rural areas, around discipline, hard work, tolerance, and mutual respect,” he said. In a goodwill message, Chief David Agbayi, representing the Maigari of Lokoja, HRH Alhaji Ibrahim Gambo Kabiru IV, pledged the support of traditional rulers in extending the campaign to rural communities.

Agbayi urged parents to intensify efforts in instilling strong moral and religious values in children, adding that the desire for quick wealth among youths had become a major driver of crime in the region. “Beyond government and security forces, parents and religious institutions must step up. If we fail to correct our children at home, the community will pay the price,” he said.

Stakeholders at the meeting—including representatives from security agencies, NGOs, women and youth groups, schools, and the media—called for urgent steps to revitalise Nigeria’s educational and industrial sectors to reduce unemployment and social frustration among youths. Participants also emphasised the need for practical, measurable actions from the government, rather than just rhetoric, to address the country’s worsening insecurity and moral decline.