Residents of the Lata Nna community in Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State have issued a harrowing “Save Our Soul” (SOS) appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, pleading for immediate federal intervention to halt a two-year reign of terror by bandits and kidnappers.
In a formal petition signed by Tauheed Desco, Secretary of the Lata-Nna Youth Association, the community painted a grim picture of life under siege, stating that they have been pushed to the brink of total collapse.
“Your Excellency, we can no longer go to our farms, we can no longer go to the market, and we can no longer sleep with our eyes closed,” the letter read. “Our only road is a death trap. Our community is bleeding.”
The petition detailed a series of gruesome attacks, highlighting a massive disparity in firepower between local vigilantes and the criminals. The community revealed that in August 2025, 65 local hunters were killed during a clash with bandits. According to the residents, only 40 bodies were recovered and buried, as the hunters’ local weapons were no match for the bandits’ sophisticated AK-47 rifles.
The situation has reportedly worsened in recent months. On April 15, 2026, a hardworking farmer, Mr. Alhassan Ndaba, was murdered on his way to his farm. More recently, on July 10, 2026, bandits reportedly invaded the town in broad daylight, moving from house to house to loot food, cash, and mobile phones. During that raid, four motorcycles valued at N1.6 million were stolen, effectively crippling the local economy.
The community further lamented the “terrifying impunity” of the criminals, noting that on June 13, 2026, four armed bandits on motorcycles entered the village in the middle of the day to buy recharge cards and petrol, moving freely while residents watched in panic.
“The bandits have blocked the only road leading into and out of Lata Nna, cutting off our access to hospitals, markets, and other essential services,” the statement added. The residents also reported that a Point-of-Sale (POS) operator was robbed at gunpoint on July 15, shortly after withdrawing cash for his business.
The embattled community is now making a direct plea to the Presidency to:
Order the immediate deployment** of federal security forces to secure the community and the access roads. Launch a sustained operation to flush out bandits from their known hideouts in the surrounding bushes. Provide justice and support** for the families of those killed, particularly the victims of the June and July attacks.
“We have endured kidnappings, extortion, and farm invasions in silence for too long,” the association said. “We appeal to President Tinubu not to allow Lata Nna to be overrun. We need help to reclaim our lives and our land.”
As of press time, the Kwara State Police Command has yet to issue an official statement regarding the recent escalation in the Patigi axis, but the community insists that only a firm directive from the Commander-in-Chief can restore lasting peace to the area.
