Two brothers, Mahmud and Suleiman, who were recently kidnapped from Esanti village in the Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State, have regained their freedom after their family reportedly paid a ransom of ₦10 million to secure their release.
According to local sources, the victims were released after spending several days in captivity. A resident of the community confirmed their freedom, describing it as a “huge relief” for the people of Esanti, who had been living in fear since the abduction.
Reports by NupekoTV-Lafiagi revealed that the ransom was raised through contributions from both the family and the wider community, highlighting the growing financial burden faced by rural residents amid rising cases of kidnapping in Kwara North.
The incident has once again drawn attention to the increasing wave of abductions across the region, where residents say they are often left to fend for themselves due to inadequate security presence.
Meanwhile, SaharaReporters previously noted that despite persistent attacks and abductions in Patigi and surrounding areas, the Kwara State Commissioner for Water Resources, Hon. Usman Yunusa Lade, had filed a criminal complaint against Tauheed Baruwa Muhammed, the Editor-in-Chief of NupekoTV-Lafiagi, over an alleged defamatory Facebook post.
Ironically, Lade’s own community is among those most affected by the ongoing insecurity, with reports that several residents have fled their homes due to frequent raids by armed men.
Local activists and residents have accused the Kwara State Government of intimidating journalists and civic voices who raise concerns about the worsening security situation. They claim that instead of addressing the root causes of the crisis, the government has resorted to using law enforcement and the courts to silence criticism.
The abduction of Mahmud and Suleiman adds to a growing list of kidnapping incidents that have left communities in Kwara North gripped by fear and financially drained as ransom demands continue to rise.
