Fresh tension has enveloped Utono community in Ngaski Local Government Area of Kebbi State after suspected terrorists delivered a letter to community leaders demanding N100 million.
The said the letter was condition for what they described as a preaching visit, warning of deadly consequences should the demand be ignored.
The chilling threat, which arrived in the early hours of Thursday, has thrown residents into panic and prompted the state government to deploy security forces, including aerial surveillance, to the area.
In the letter, the assailants made clear their intentions were far from peace.
“This is not a joke. We are coming to preach. You must pay us N100 million. If you refuse, you will face the consequences and have no one to blame but yourselves. Even if you call soldiers, they cannot stop us,” the letter read.
To underscore the gravity of their threat, the group invoked a previous attack on Woru community in Kiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, where several persons were reportedly killed after a similar warning went unheeded.
The reference has added to the fear gripping Utono residents, many of whom have begun making contingency plans.
“People are scared. The mention of what happened in Woru has made the threat more frightening. Many families are already discussing safety plans in case anything happens,” a community source, who craved anonymity over security concerns, told PUNCH.
The Kebbi State Government confirmed the authenticity of the letter on Thursday evening.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Idris, told our correspondent by telephone that authorities had moved swiftly to avert any potential attack.
“I just spoke with the Director of Security; he confirmed the information and said security has been deployed to the area,” Idris said.
He added that the government was treating the threat with the utmost seriousness, noting that security agencies had been mobilised alongside air surveillance to cover the affected communities.
“The government, alongside security agencies, has deployed security to the area, including air surveillance. I am sure you know the state government is not playing with the security of the state. His Excellency has been up and doing on security matters, and this will not be an exception,” he stated.