Bandits Demand N200m Levy from Kwara Town, Threaten Attack

THECONSCIENCE NG reports that bandits have issued a chilling new threat to residents of Lile village in Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State, demanding a N200 million “levy” or face another deadly attack.

This demand comes just days after the brutal killing of Alhaji Abdullahi Kpotun—a prominent businessman and ward leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)—and his son. Both were shot dead during an attack on their residence, believed to be a failed kidnap operation.

Local sources revealed that the bandits used the late Alhaji Kpotun’s phone to contact one of his sons directly, issuing the ultimatum. “They called this morning and said if the money isn’t paid today, they’ll come back and attack again,” a terrified resident told The Newsmen .

The initial assault occurred on Tuesday night, plunging the quiet village into grief and fear. Since then, panic has gripped Lile and nearby communities, with residents pleading for urgent intervention from the state government and security agencies. Many now fear their town is becoming a battleground for unchecked criminal activity.

This latest threat highlights the growing wave of insecurity in Kwara North. In a similar incident in Okuta, Baruten Local Government Area, a failed kidnapping attempt recently left three people dead, including a kidnap victim, a local vigilante, and one of the attackers.

Residents across the region—from Shiya to Okuta and now Patigi—report that violent attacks are occurring nearly every three to four weeks. The frequency and brutality of these incidents have left communities living in constant fear.

Despite mounting concern and calls for action, there has been no official response from security agencies at the time of filing this report.