Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
A wave of fear has swept through Pategi Local Government Area of Kwara State after armed bandits reportedly issued a seven‑day ultimatum demanding a N300 million ransom for the release of ten residents abducted during a recent attack. The assailants allegedly warned that failure to meet their demands would result in another large-scale assault on the community, including threats to kill residents.
According to distressed community members, the victims were kidnapped during a night raid last week in which multiple houses were invaded. The attackers, said to be heavily armed, operated for hours without resistance.
A community elder, who pleaded anonymity for security reasons, said the kidnappers contacted the families on Tuesday morning with a chilling message. “They told us clearly: bring N300 million within seven days or prepare to bury your people,” he recounted. “They also threatened they would come back and finish the entire village if the money is not paid.”
Residents say the bandits’ threat has thrown the area into panic, with many families fleeing to neighbouring towns. Schools, markets, and worship centres have reportedly recorded low attendance due to fear of renewed attacks.
A relative of one of the abducted victims explained the emotional ordeal. “They beat our people during the phone call to scare us. We heard their cries. We don’t have this kind of money. We are just poor farmers,” she lamented.
Local security volunteers, who have been helping to guard the community, say they are overstretched and ill-equipped. “We can’t match these people. They come with weapons we’ve never seen before,” a vigilante member said.
The Kwara State Police Command has yet to release an official statement, but security sources confirm that efforts are underway to track the kidnappers’ movements and ensure the safe rescue of the victims. Reinforcement has reportedly been deployed to the Pategi axis to prevent further incursions.
Meanwhile, residents continue to appeal to the state and federal governments for urgent intervention. “If help does not come quickly, this community may empty out. People are already running,” another elder warned.
The incident adds to a growing list of recent rural attacks in the North Central region, sparking renewed calls for improved intelligence gathering, better policing, and joint community–security collaboration.
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