No fewer than 10 people, including a pregnant woman, were killed by suspected Fulani bandits in Matogu village, Patigi local government area of Kwara State, in the early hours of Wednesday.
This has, however, forced the Nupe Descendants Union (NDU) to raise a Save Our Souls (SOS) to the governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, for immediate rescue.
The Guardian Newspaper reliably gathered that the young invaders also kidnapped seven villagers to their hideouts, from where they have been sending signals for ransom.
Information has it that the assailants struck at about 6 a.m. and operated for four uninterrupted hours.
A female source (names withheld) hinted that they stormed the village en route to Macha village, a settlement of Kanuri farmers who saw them going.
The Sources stated that the Kanuri farmers made efforts to reach the Matogu people on the phone, but couldn’t because of a poor communication network.
On getting to their destination, the Fulani attackers started sporadic shootings and merciless killings during which a stray bullet caught a pregnant woman who died on the spot.
The source recalled: “My heart is heavy, I just can’t talk because what happened on Monday is still fresh.
“It was early hours of about 6:am these young Fulanis came, they killed many and went away with seven people, including young and old.
“The killings touched me more, especially that of the pregnant woman.
“Could you believe that the assailants operated for hours, neither checked nor confronted?” She asked.
Corroborating the worst security situation in the Kwara North area, on Wednesday, the state chairman of NDU sent a Save our Souls (SOS) to the governor to rescue them from bandits in Edu and Patigi LGAs.
Addressing newsmen at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) old Offa road, the group led by its chairman, Alhaji Shuaibu Shaba Mohammed, urged the governor to, for once, pay a solidarity visit to the troubled area to appreciate their experience.
Listing that the Union involves Patigi Emirate Development Union (PEDU), Lafiagi Development Union (LADU), Shonga Emirate Development Union (SHEDU), Tsaragi Emirate District Association (TSADA) and Ilorin Emirate Nupe Association, the group appreciated the federal government in deploying security personnel to manage the escalating insecurity situation, involving collaborative efforts with local vigilantes, “despite the vigilantes having suffered serious casualties, death and severe injuries. We remain deeply grateful for these interventions.”
He said, “Attacks on our people have been catastrophic; this is pathetic, looking at the incessant attack on our people and their farm lands.
“As we speak, our people live a life of uncertainty; they cannot sleep with their eyes closed.
“These attacks are one too many. The shocks are traumatic, valuable lives and properties are wasted, our farm land is no longer accessible, commercial activities in many parts of our communities paralysed, we cannot imagine how much the two local governments have lost in terms of revenue,” he lamented.
On the economic effect of banditry, Mohammed said: “The International Gbugbu market, the pride of our business hub, our own melting pot, beehive of activities, is shut down due to banditry and kidnapping; villagers running elsewhere for resettlements. This unbelievable shock and emotional instability to our people is better imagined than seen.
“While we acknowledge the efforts of the Kwara State Government under the leadership of His Excellency, Mallam Abdul Rahman Abdul Razaq, in deploying security personnel to the affected areas,
“It is clear that more decisive and sustainable action is needed. The persistence of these attacks demands urgent and continuous reinforcement of both security infrastructure and community-based responses.”
It, however, suggested additional logistics and operational support to the army, the police, local hunters and vigilantes.
“The government should ensure sustainable intelligence gathering and coordinated response efforts; we suggest continuous presence of the security men and more surveillance in view of their sporadic and unexpected attacks on some places or communities.
“Please support victims of these attacks through targeted relief and rehabilitation initiatives,” it added.
They blamed the constant security breaches on poor road networks, saying, “probably and probably if our roads were better, some of these attacks might not be possible.
“These people (bandits and kidnappers) strike successfully, especially on bad roads with motorcycles. Sir, Patigi to Ilorin, a journey of three hours at most, now lasts 5-6 hours or more.
“We Nupes in Kwara plead that you take a second and quick action in making Patigi-Gbugbu-Lafiagi -Tsaragi -Bacita roads quickly rehabilitated. We humbly plead with His Excellency to passionately assist us now, as delay may be dangerous. A stitch in time, they say, saves nine. Help us now that there is time, rather than wait until time is timeless.
“These persistent attacks demand urgent and continuous reinforcement of both security infrastructure and community-based responses,” NDU stressed.
