By joshua 
ODO-APE DAY 2026: KABBA BUNU COMMUNITY CELEBRATES CULTURE, RENEWS CALL FOR UNITY AND PROGRESS
The 2026 Odo-Ape Day celebration came alive on Saturday with vibrant cultural displays, music, and communal gatherings as sons and daughters of Odo-Ape, both at home and in the diaspora, converged on the Odo-Ape open field in Kabba Bunu Local Government Area.
The annual event drew indigenes from all walks of life who returned to their ancestral home to reconnect, reflect on shared heritage, and chart a path toward a more prosperous future for the community.
From traditional dances to cultural exhibitions, the atmosphere was one of celebration, nostalgia, and renewed commitment to collective growth.
Speakers at the gathering emphasized that unity remains the foundation for harnessing Odo-Ape’s full potential and positioning it as a model community within Kogi State.
While the day was marked by cultural pride, community leaders also used the occasion to address the persistent security challenges confronting Kogi West Senatorial District. Traditional rulers and key stakeholders called for intensified security operations to eliminate banditry and criminal networks operating in forests across the region.
For months, communities in Kogi West have faced threats from kidnappers and armed groups, with several forested areas becoming hotspots for criminal activity. Odo-Ape, once affected by high-profile abductions, remains one of the areas deeply impacted by insecurity.
Although the Kogi State Government and security agencies have recorded progress in restoring order, traditional rulers said more decisive action is needed to completely wipe out banditry. They stressed that cultural values, community vigilance, and local unity must complement security efforts.
“Defeating insecurity requires communities to reject alliances with criminal elements and embrace shared values that promote peace and accountability,” said HRM Oba Elijah Maseko, the Oba of Odo-Ape Land, during the event. Oba Idowu Isenibi, the Bajana of Obajana, echoed the call, noting that lasting peace depends on collective responsibility.
Representing the Kogi State Governor, Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Faloshade Arike Ayoade, PhD and Duro Meseko, representing the Chairman of the Occasion, both acknowledged the role of culture in fostering resilience and urged deeper collaboration between communities and security agencies.
Participants also highlighted the need for stronger intelligence gathering and sustained government commitment to prevent criminal elements from regaining a foothold in Kogi’s forests.
For many at the celebration, the message was clear: while culture and unity bring the people together, lasting security will require both community resolve and deliberate government action.
The Chief Launcher at the celebration, Asiwaju Adesoji Adetunji, tasked the Community on the need to sustain and promote the rich culture and heritage the people of Odo Ape are known for, congratulated them for the successful host of the 2026 edition of the cultural celebration.