The once-bustling community now lies deserted, with homes, shops, and streets abandoned.
Tension has gripped Ndanaku community in Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State after residents fled en masse following a series of violent bandit attacks and the abduction of three villagers.
The once-bustling community now lies deserted, with homes, shops, and streets abandoned.
A video posted online by Nupekotv shows an eerie silence across the community, underscoring the residents' fear and desperation.
The kidnappers are reportedly demanding a ransom of N100 million for the release of the abducted residents.
Meanwhile, community leaders have appealed to the Kwara State Government and federal authorities to intervene urgently, citing the humanitarian and security crisis triggered by the mass displacement of residents.
A video was shared alongside a heartfelt letter from residents of Ndanaku community to the Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq, urgently requesting intervention.
Titled "Continued Deterioration of Security Situation in Ndanaku Community," the letter described how the village had "become a den and host of bandits of Fulani extraction for over two (2) weeks."
Residents explained that ongoing abductions and attacks had forced them to abandon their homes and livelihoods in search of safety.
Despite the mass exodus, the bandits have continued to wreak havoc, the letter said.
Their activities now include "killing and rustling of our livestock, destroying both harvested and unharvested farmlands, and breaking into shops and houses," which the community says is because there are no longer residents to kidnap.
The residents noted that repeated appeals to the Patigi Local Government Chairman, Hon. Ahmed Rufai, for Nigerian Army deployment had "proved abortive," even though soldiers stationed at the LGA capital were reportedly "willing to respond if given the directive."
Signed by Gideon Zhiri, Chairman of the community's Elites Association, the letter ended with a plea for "quick intervention so residents can return to the community without fear."
The mass displacement, it said, highlights the worsening security crisis in Kwara North and the growing pressure on residents to protect themselves.
Previously, SaharaReporters reported that a resident of Esun Tauheed in the Lafiagi Emirate of Kwara State, abducted during a bandit attack last week, had been confirmed dead, deepening fears in the violence-plagued region.
The victim, identified as Abdullahi Tsowa, was seized during a late-night raid on the outskirts of the community.
According to local reports by NupekoTv-Lafiagi, Tsowa attempted to escape by climbing into the ceiling of the house but was caught by the assailants, while two of his friends managed to flee with injuries.
The exact circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear, but community members say the killing has turned what began as a kidnapping into a tragic murder.
Similar attacks have recently targeted neighbouring villages such as Lataworo and Gbugbu.
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