Kwara Community Deserted As Residents Flee Bandit Attacks, Kidnappers Demand N100M Ransom

Ilorin, Kwara State– Panic in the Ndanaku community in Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State as relentless bandit attacks force residents to abandon their homes.

The once-busy village now lies deserted, following the abduction of three residents by gunmen who are demanding a ransom of N100 million for their release.

In a video obtained by Afrika Eyes, the eerie silence of the community—empty homes, deserted streets, and no sign of human activity—painting a grim picture of fear and helplessness.

Residents said the bandits, believed to be heavily armed, have terrorised the area for weeks, forcing families to flee to safer locations.

Community leaders have repeatedly appealed to the state government and security agencies for urgent intervention to rescue the kidnapped victims and restore peace.

It was gathered that the kidnappers have maintained contact with the victims’ families, insisting on the hefty ransom before any negotiations can proceed.

Meanwhile, a heartfelt letter from residents to the Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq, urgently seeking intervention.

The residents lamented that their village had “become a den and host of bandits of Fulani extraction for over two weeks.” They explained that the mass exodus was driven by relentless abductions and attacks, forcing them to abandon their homes and livelihoods in search of safety.

Despite the residents’ absence, the bandits have continued their rampage.

According to the letter, their activities now include “killing and rustling of livestock, destruction of both harvested and unharvested farmlands, as well as breaking into shops and houses”—acts the community linked to the lack of people left to kidnap.

The residents noted that their pleas to the Patigi Local Government Chairman, Hon. Ahmed Rufai, for the Nigerian Army’s intervention had “proved abortive.”

They stressed that while the Army is stationed at the LGA headquarters and “willing to respond,” they require official directives before taking action.

Signed by Gideon Zhiri, Chairman of the Ndanaku Elites, the letter ends with a plea for “swift intervention so that residents can return home without fear.”

The displacement highlights the worsening security situation in Kwara North and the growing sense of helplessness among rural communities.