Residents of Ira, Inaja and Aho communities in Oyun Local Government Area of Kwara State has been overwhelmed with fear, following a recent threat letter allegedly dropped at Ira market area, warning of an impending terrorist attack.
According to sources familiar with the situation, the authors of the letter identified themselves as “NTA (Nigeria Terrorist Association)” and claimed they had moved from Kaiama Local Government Area to Oyun, declaring their intention to strike the communities “anytime soon.”
The content of the letter seen by sources reads in part: “No Town, or place That is scared us to destroyed. We search and gathered information before we raided.”
The group further taunted the residents, writing: “We heard about this town IRA ‘You people strong, and have many Powerful men to face Our Organisation.’”
“Be ready for us at any time, any date. noting Concern about your Oracle or us powerful We left Kaiama LG, we move to Ira, Inaja and Aho and town surrounded”, it reads.
Ira is a border town adjoining Ilemona, with Inaja and Aho located westwards along the same corridor, a community increasingly viewed as vulnerable due to forest routes linking parts of Kwara to neighbouring states.
Military sources disclosed that the Nigerian Army’s Forward Operation Base in Ilemona has intensified patrols across the threatened communities, working alongside other security personnel to prevent any infiltration.
“The information has geared all the security agencies into series of operational preparedness and way forward meeting with local government authority,” a source said, adding that residents have been advised to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements.
This is coming shortly after the recent massacre in Woro community in Kaiama Local Government Area, where at least 162 people were reportedly slaughtered by suspected terrorists linked to Jama’atu Ahlissunnah Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS), commonly known as Boko Haram.
The Woro attack led to to the killing of the two wives of the Emir of Woro, several of his children, the Chief Imam, a school principal, a headmistress and returning students. The Emir, Alhaji Saliu Bio Umar, managed to escape after fleeing the scene.
