Residents of Lata Nna community in Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State have appealed to President Bola Tinubu to urgently intervene over the wave of banditry, kidnappings and violent attacks that have gripped the area for the past two years.
In a Save Our Soul (SOS) letter addressed to the president, the Secretary of the Lata-Nna Youth Association, Tauheed Desco, said the community is living in constant fear and can no longer carry out normal daily activities.
“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. Our only road is a death trap. Our community is bleeding,” the letter stated.
The residents urged Tinubu to order the immediate deployment of security personnel to protect the community and secure its only access road.
They also requested justice and support for the families of victims, particularly Alhassan Ndaba and two other residents reportedly killed during an attack on June 26.
According to the community, residents have endured repeated kidnappings, extortion, farm invasions and armed robberies, with several incidents highlighting the worsening security crisis.
The association recalled that in August 2025, about 65 local hunters were reportedly killed during a clash with heavily armed bandits. It said only 40 bodies were recovered and buried.
The letter further alleged that on April 15, 2026, farmer Alhassan Ndaba was killed by bandits while travelling to his farm.
Residents also claimed that on July 10, 2026, armed bandits stormed Lata Nna in broad daylight, moving from house to house to loot food items, money, mobile phones and other valuables. They reportedly broke into shops and stole four motorcycles worth about ₦1.6 million.
The community added that on June 13, four armed bandits riding two motorcycles openly entered the village in broad daylight, searching for recharge cards, petrol and other items, causing panic among residents.
According to the letter, the attackers also blocked the community’s only road, preventing access to hospitals, markets and other essential services.
Residents said villagers gathering leaves behind the community on June 27 were robbed of their phones and cash, while a point-of-sale (POS) operator was allegedly robbed at gunpoint after withdrawing money from a bank on July 15.
The community appealed to Tinubu to order a sustained security operation to flush bandits out of their hideouts and prevent Lata Nna from being overrun by criminal groups.
