Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The nightmare of four residents of Tsaragi in Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State has entered its sixth month, with three of them still languishing in captivity despite their families paying ransom on multiple occasions and providing other items demanded by their abductors. According to information from families and concerned residents, the victims have been held for more than five months, with their families paying ransom on more than three occasions and also supplying fuel, recharge cards, groundnut oil and other items requested by the kidnappers. Despite these efforts, the victims have not been released.
The development comes amid renewed security concerns in the area following another recent attack in Ya Nakoko Nna, where two additional people were reportedly kidnapped. The prolonged captivity of the Tsaragi victims has sparked outrage among residents, who are now calling on leaders across Kwara North, including the Emirs, as well as the Kwara State Government, to take decisive action to secure the release of those still being held and strengthen security in vulnerable communities.
The families of the abducted residents have continued to pray for their safe return while appealing for urgent intervention from the authorities. Concerned residents say the prolonged captivity of the victims must not be allowed to fade into silence, urging authorities to treat the situation as an urgent humanitarian and security matter. The Tsaragi community has been a hotspot for kidnapping and banditry in recent months, with criminal groups exploiting the vast terrain around the Kainji Lake National Park and forest reserves to launch attacks on vulnerable communities. The abductors of four Turkish nationals in Gbale village, also in Edu LGA, had demanded N16 million ransom in a separate incident, highlighting the growing boldness and operational capacity of these criminal groups.
The Kwara State Government and security agencies have yet to issue a public statement on the fate of the Tsaragi victims. However, the Take-It-Back Movement had earlier given the Kwara State Government a 72-hour deadline to rescue kidnap victims, describing the situation as a humanitarian crisis. The Senate had also called for federal intervention in the worsening security situation in Kwara North, with Senator Sadiq Umar noting that communities in Patigi and Edu LGAs had suffered repeated attacks and kidnappings.
As the families of the Tsaragi victims continue to wait and pray, the question remains: how many more lives must be lost or ruined before the government takes decisive action to end the cycle of violence that has turned Kwara North into a theatre of terror? The people of Tsaragi and surrounding communities are demanding answers, and they are running out of patience.
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