Kwara Residents Allege Police, Military Direct Families To Terrorists’ Locations For Ransom Payments
Residents of Woru and neighbouring areas of Ilorin East Local Government Area of Kwara State have alleged that some police and military personnel not only fail to respond to attacks by terrorists but also direct families to locations where the terrorists demand that ransom payments be delivered.
The residents, who spoke to SaharaReporters amid worsening insecurity in their communities, said security operatives sometimes refuse to intervene when terrorists attack or abduct residents, leaving victims and their families to negotiate directly with the criminals.
They alleged that the situation becomes even more disturbing when terrorists demand ransom, as victims’ families are allegedly instructed by the criminals to approach police or military personnel on the highways if they do not know where to deliver the money or other items demanded for the release of abducted persons.
According to the residents, security personnel allegedly direct them to the locations specified by the terrorists, including areas where the criminals are believed to be operating.
“The problem we are having with these terrorists is that the security operatives are working with them,” one of the residents told SaharaReporters.
“If they attack us and we call the police or the military to rescue us, the security operatives would not even bother to come.”
The resident alleged that the conduct of some security personnel had become particularly troubling during ransom negotiations.
“The most shocking fact is that anytime these terrorists call us to demand for money and other items for ransom, and we tell them we don’t know where to drop them, you know they always ask for cash,” the resident said.
“They will tell us to ask any police officer or military officer we find on the highway. They guide and direct us to their locations.”
Another resident alleged that military personnel had on several occasions directed families taking ransom payments to locations where terrorists were waiting to collect them.
“Many times, the military will direct us to where these terrorists are hiding to drop the ransom for them,” the resident said.
“The same police and military that are supposed to protect us are now working with these terrorists.”
The allegations come amid a deteriorating security situation in these communities where residents say terrorists have intensified attacks on farmers, motorists and other residents.
SaharaReporters had reported that terrorists operating in the area collected ₦5 million, a Bajaj motorcycle, two smartphones and 20 bottles of alcohol from the family of the Magaji (traditional chief) of Woru community in exchange for the release of his kidnapped son.
However, despite the family complying with the demands, the victim was allegedly not released.
Residents said the terrorists contacted the traditional chief again about three days later and demanded another ₦5 million.
The victim, who was kidnapped in August, was still being held by the terrorists as of Thursday, according to residents who spoke to SaharaReporters.
The residents also said at least six other people had been abducted from Woru and surrounding communities between August and September, bringing the number of people currently in captivity to at least seven.
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“The terrorists are really disturbing us in our communities. It even took God’s grace for us to come to Ilorin this morning without being kidnapped by them,” one resident previously told SaharaReporters.
“They are even on the road this morning kidnapping motorists and farmers. They have killed a lot of people and the government is doing nothing to help us.”
The residents said terrorists had increasingly taken control of roads linking the rural communities to Ilorin, making movement dangerous for farmers and motorists.
They said residents were now forced to weigh the risks of travelling to their farms or moving between communities, particularly because of the possibility of encountering armed men along the roads.
The residents further alleged that the security situation had become so bad that people no longer had confidence that contacting security agencies would result in immediate intervention.
According to them, residents often have to rely on their own efforts to negotiate the release of abducted relatives after attacks.
The latest allegation about security personnel allegedly directing ransom couriers to terrorists’ locations has further heightened residents’ concerns about the effectiveness of security operations in the affected communities.
The residents said the alleged practice is especially dangerous because families attempting to secure the release of abducted relatives could be exposed to further attacks while travelling to locations identified by the terrorists.
They also alleged that terrorists routinely demand cash and other items before agreeing to release victims, with families forced to raise huge sums despite their limited financial means.
In the case of the traditional chief’s son, residents said the family initially complied with a ₦5 million ransom demand and also provided the other items requested by the terrorists.
“We supplied all these to them hoping they would release him,” a resident said.
However, three days later, according to the residents, the terrorists contacted the family again and demanded another ₦5 million.
“They said all the items and the money we paid before were not enough,” the resident said.
“That is the current situation now.”
The residents said the repeated ransom demands had placed the victim’s family under severe financial pressure, while the other abducted residents remained in captivity.
They also expressed concern that the payment of ransom had failed to guarantee the release of victims, saying families were increasingly being forced to raise additional money after meeting the terrorists’ initial demands.
The worsening insecurity has also affected farming activities, according to the residents.
According to them, farmers are increasingly afraid to travel to their farms because of the risk of abduction or attacks, potentially threatening food production and the livelihoods of people who depend on agriculture.
The residents called on the Kwara State Government and security agencies to urgently intervene in the affected communities and protect residents from further attacks.
They also demanded investigations into the allegations involving security personnel, particularly the claim that some police and military personnel allegedly direct families to locations where terrorists demand that ransom payments be delivered.
SaharaReporters contacted the relevant police and military authorities for their response to the allegations.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the Kwara State Police Command, SP Ejire-Adeyemi Adetoun, and Col. Appolonia Anele, Acting Director, Army Public Relations, had not responded to text messages and phone calls seeking their comments at the time of filing this report.
