Kwara Residents Protest As Killings And Kidnappings Force Doctors To Flee Patigi Hospital

Tension and anger filled the streets of Patigi in Kwara State as hundreds of residents marched through the town to protest the rising wave of killings and kidnappings that have crippled daily life and forced doctors to abandon the General Hospital.

The protest, held on Friday, brought together youths, elders, and community leaders demanding immediate government action to restore peace and security.

The demonstrators gathered at the town center carrying placards and chanting songs to express frustration over what they described as unending violence. For months, the people of Patigi Local Government Area have lived in fear, with reports of armed attacks on villages, kidnappings, and farmers unable to visit their farmlands. The residents accused the state government of neglecting their cries for help despite several appeals.

The insecurity has worsened to the point where medical personnel at the General Hospital have fled, leaving the town without doctors. Patients are now left stranded as the hospital struggles to function. The residents said the situation has reached a breaking point, warning that the region could face economic collapse if security is not restored quickly.

According to the protesters, armed men believed to be Fulani attackers have continued to terrorize communities in the area. Many villagers no longer sleep in their homes or travel at night for fear of abduction. They said unfamiliar faces have been seen at the Kara Market, fueling suspicions of planned attacks and heightening tension in the town.

Community elders joined the youths in calling on Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to take urgent steps to end the killings. They urged the state government to deploy more security operatives to rural areas and forest zones where bandits are suspected to be hiding. They also demanded the relocation of the Kara Market, which they claimed has become a gathering point for criminal elements.

Residents said life in Patigi has become unbearable as families are forced to pay huge ransoms to free kidnapped relatives. Many lamented that their farms and businesses are collapsing while they continue to lose loved ones to gunmen. They accused Senator Sadiq Umar, who represents Kwara North, of not speaking the truth about the situation in the Senate, insisting that the region is far from safe.

They warned that unless the government intervenes, the insecurity will worsen, and more lives will be lost. The protesters appealed to traditional rulers, lawmakers, and security agencies to join hands to end the crisis before it spreads further.

Meanwhile, the state government is facing public criticism over a separate legal case involving three activists—Buhari Olanrewaju Ahmed, Comrade Saliu Bolakale, and Saidu Musa—who were arrested and charged for allegedly defaming government officials online. The activists, known for criticising the government’s handling of insecurity, were detained in July after participating in a citizens’ protest.

Court documents showed that the state filed multiple charges against the trio, accusing them of cyberstalking and causing public unrest through their publications. However, lawyers representing the defendants argued that the case was flawed from the start, saying the magistrate’s court lacked jurisdiction. They also revealed that the charges were filed without a valid signature or date, raising concerns about due process.

The situation in Kwara State has deepened public frustration, with many residents saying the government is focusing more on silencing critics than tackling insecurity. The protests in Patigi have now drawn nationwide attention to the plight of communities in Kwara North, where lives and livelihoods continue to be threatened by violence and fear.