Kwara: How ‘cultists’ laid siege to hostels, community for 2 days — Victims

Victims of a recent siege to a Kwara community by suspected cultists and armed robbers have narrated their experiences. Last month, some student hostels in part of Tanke, Ilorin South Local Government Area of Kwara State, were invaded by some suspected cultists throwing the community into panic. City & Crime gathered that many of the […]

Victims of a recent siege to a Kwara community by suspected cultists and armed robbers have narrated their experiences.

Last month, some student hostels in part of Tanke, Ilorin South Local Government Area of Kwara State, were invaded by some suspected cultists throwing the community into panic.

City & Crime gathered that many of the victims have fled the community, travelling to Lagos and other neighbouring states following the incident.

Speaking with our correspondent on Sunday, a victim, Noel, said it was an incident that will live with him for a long time.

“They held our community hostage for two days. It started around 4pm. I went out to play football but returned to get a sachet of water when they followed me in and locked the door from inside and started beating me.

“They requested for money and I said I didn’t have but when they wanted to chop off my hand, I have to tell them my pin and they transferred N700,000 from my account.

“They came with guns and cutlasses. I was told to lie down and they threatened to video me and send it to my family group chat that I went to steal. Four of them were inside and two were outside and I recognized one by his voice.

“They now went to some girls and stripped them naked, collected N55,000 from one of them which was part of her school fees,” he added

Another victim, Mark, said “it was raining that night when they collected my friend’s phone. We went with him to plead but they collected N85,000 through transfer before they released it.

“The next day, they continued and it was a very scary experience because they locked up the hostel and subjected the occupants to serious beating. Many people left the hostel and others travelled out of town. We were tortured,” he said.

According to another victim who simply identified himself as BL, “My brother who just came from Lagos came to collect his things from my hostel when they walked in and collected his two iPhones.

“I know them and we went there with the intention of collecting our phones but when we got there, about six of them were dealing with a student and the whole place was full of blood which really sacred us.

“We had to beg and I had to call people at home to send us money and we transferred N85,000 to them. The next day they came to my room but I had left. They threatened to kill me; they brought out my belongings and wanted to burn them,” he said.

No immediate response to the incident by the police in the state.