Attacks by suspected terrorists may not stop anytime soon, as the criminals have begun sending warning letters to a number of towns in Kwara State.
Reports from Saturday PUNCH said that in the previous six days, they have addressed letters to four separate communities, threatening to attack at any time.
Our sources say that on Thursday, a letter was left off at Ira, which is a village that connects the towns of Inaja and Aho in the Oyun Local Government Area.
A few days after the February 3 attack on Woro town that killed more than 176 people and kidnapped 38, the terrorists delivered a threat letter to the Dunshigogo village in Kaiama LGA.
People leave after getting a threat letter
Our sources say that people in Ira, Inaja, and Aho have begun to leave their homes because of the threat letters sent by the suspected terrorists.
“This message is from the Nigeria Terrorist Association, NTA,” it said. Our motor: we kill, kidnap, and destroy. There is no town or place that scares us enough to destroy it. Before we trade, we look for and gather information. We heard about this place, Ira. You people are strong, and your organization has a lot of powerful men to deal with. Be ready for us at any moment and on any day. We don’t care about your oracle or how powerful we are. We left Kaiama and moved to Ira, Inaja, Aho, and the towns around them.
For accuracy, the letter’s content, including its grammar and organization, is kept. Our correspondent has not been able to confirm the letter’s validity.
Ira is a border town next to Ilemona, the capital of Oyun LGA. It is along a corridor that connects several rural settlements that are thought to be vulnerable because they are close to forest belts.
A traditional chief in Ira, who asked not to be named for safety reasons, stated that the note was left in a motorcycle park next to the main mosque.
“People saw the letter between 2:30 and 3:00 p.m. Two people on a bike left it at the okada riders’ area near the Ira Central Mosque. At first, the riders assumed it was a mistake and kept it for the men. But after reading it, they promptly took it to the king’s palace.
“After the letter got to Kabiyesi, he told the police and other security authorities. Around 5 p.m., officers from the DSS and the police went to Inaja, Ira, and Aho. He claimed, “Soldiers, police, and NSCDC officers are now patrolling the area.”
The chief said that even though there were security forces present, people in the communities were still scared, which made some of them move away for a while.
“This is the first time we’ve seen anything like this.” People are scared. Some people have gone to nearby towns because we don’t know what’s going to happen. Our vigilantes are in Ilorin right now learning how to guard the forest. “We want the government to let them go back home to deal with this threat,” he said.
Monarch wants help
Oba Wahab Oyetoro, the Oninaja of Inaja, informed our reporter that the letter made things worse and made some people leave.
“On Thursday, the letter was found in Ira, and the chairman of the Oyun Local Government summoned an emergency meeting of all traditional rulers to tell them about it and come up with ways to keep ourselves and our people safe. The massacre in Kaiama has made many afraid. He claimed, “Some people have already left town to find safety in Offa and other nearby towns.”
The king also said that security forces, with the help of vigilantes, had begun to police the communities.
Yekini Olarewaju, the National Secretary of the Ira Descendants Union, claimed that the community had asked the government and security authorities for help right away.
He added that terror had taken over the village and stopped people from going about their daily business.
“People are panicking all over. People are scared. People who were meant to go to their fields, especially those who were picking cashew nuts, couldn’t go. Today, all schools, from elementary to high school, were closed. People closed their companies.
“We have asked the government for support. Security organizations like the Navy, civil defense, the police, and soldiers stationed in Ilemona, a nearby town, have begun patrolling the whole area.
“Our vigilantes in the area are also awake. He continued, “Since then, they have been going through the bushes around here.”
A native of Ira who lives in Offa and asked to remain anonymous for safety reasons stated that news of the letter traveled quickly on Thursday night.
“We heard about a bizarre letter late on Thursday night, but we didn’t know where it originated from. I was in Ira around 3 p.m. yesterday (Thursday) with several other folks, and we didn’t hear anything.
My brother rushed from Ira to Offa around 10 p.m. to tell me. I couldn’t believe it. People from Lagos and even other countries began to call me. One of my younger brothers requested me to move to Lagos because he was scared, but I told him I would stay.
The father added that a lot of families had turned to prayer and told their kids to be careful.
“We just need to pray.” The letter has already caused a lot of trouble in the neighborhood, but people don’t have any other options. Parents are telling their kids not to go out at night. He continued, “We have written to the government asking for help.”
Police and DSS are on high alert.
Ejire Adetoun-Adeyemi, who speaks for the Kwara State Police Command, said that they got the letter.
“Our intelligence unit is looking into it right now to find out if it’s true and where it might have come from. We have stepped up patrols by sending out more people, along with vigilantes, to find out where the letter came from. Adekimi Ojo, the Commissioner of Police, has asked anyone who knows something relevant to go to the local police station. She stated, “He assures the people of Kwara that the police will protect lives and property.”
A high-ranking DSS officer also confirmed the news, saying, “We have received this letter and are working on it.”
According to a military source, the Nigerian Army’s Forward Operating Base in Ilemona had stepped up patrols in the towns that were in danger.
“The information has put all security agencies on high alert for operations.” The officer replied, “We have met with local government officials to go over plans and make sure there is no infiltration.”
The LG chairman calls an emergency meeting.
Akanbi Olarewaju, the Chairman of Oyun LGA, called an emergency security meeting on Friday at the council secretariat in Ilemona.
The gathering, which included security agencies, traditional leaders, and important stakeholders, was meant to deal with the dangers.
Owodunni Adekunle, the Chief Press Secretary to the chairman, said, “Even though security agencies are still trying to verify the letter’s source and credibility, the council thought it was necessary to take steps to protect the public.”
“We ask our people to stay calm, be on the lookout, and report any strange movements or unfamiliar faces, not just in Ira and Aho/Inaja but all over the Oyun Local Government.” Community policing and sharing information quickly are still very important for stopping crime and keeping security breaches from happening.
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