Patigi Residents Protest Insecurity As Doctors Flee General Hospital Amid Killings,  Kidnappings In Kwara

Ilorin,  Kwara State– Residents of Patigi Local Government Area in Kwara State have protested against worsening insecurity in their communities.

They lamented that persistent killings and kidnappings have forced all doctors at the Patigi General Hospital to flee.

The protest, which took place on Friday, saw both youth and community leaders calling on Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to urgently intervene as the area continues to suffer attacks allegedly carried out by armed Fulani bandits.

The demonstrators, carrying placards and chanting solidarity songs, said their lives were no longer safe as strange faces have been spotted in their communities and markets, heightening fear among residents.

One of the protesters stated that people are being killed day and night due to persistent banditry. As a result, all the doctors at Patigi General Hospital have fled, and patients are dying daily.

The residents also called for the relocation of the Kara market in Patigi, alleging that unfamiliar individuals, suspected to be among the attackers, have been moving freely within the area.

They explained that anyone who tells the public that Kwara State or Patigi is safe is not telling the truth. They said they are not safe, as people are being killed every day and night.

They further accused Senator Sadiq Umar, representing Kwara North, of misinforming the public about the security situation in the area.

Protesters refuted Senator Sadiq’s claim that Kwara North is safe, stating that the region is, in fact, in peril. They reported that people are dying, kidnappings occur daily, ransoms costing millions are paid, and their investments are being destroyed.

The aggrieved residents appealed to the state government, traditional rulers, and security agencies to take immediate action to restore peace and protect lives and property.

The protesters said, “We, the youth of Patigi, together with our leaders, are appealing to the state government for urgent intervention. We are being killed day and night due to persistent banditry carried out by armed Fulani attackers.

“We want the Kara market in Patigi to be relocated because we have been seeing unfamiliar faces among the Fulani people, and we do not know who they are. We are living in fear, especially at night, as strange people continue to move around our community.

“Because of the insecurity, we find it difficult to go out at night. The situation has also affected the General Hospital in Patigi — due to the killings and kidnappings, all the doctors have fled. There is currently no doctor at the hospital, and our patients are dying. Our lives are no longer safe.

“We can no longer go to our farms because of fear. Our farm produce is getting spoiled as we are unable to harvest them. We are pleading for help from the government, traditional rulers, local government chairman, members of the House of Assembly, and Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. Please, come to our aid.

“We are dying. Anyone who tells you that Kwara State or Patigi is safe is not telling the truth. We are not safe. We are being killed every day and night. Please, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, come to our rescue. We urgently need your support,” he added.