Terrorists deliver handwritten threats to Ikoyi-Ile residents in Oyo State, vowing an invasion on January 20 over unpaid levies.
Armed terrorists escalated their reign of fear in Oyo State’s rural heartland as they dropped two menacing handwritten letters in Ikoyi-Ile town, demanding compliance with imposed levies or face a brutal attack.
The notes, discovered by locals in the Oriire Local Government Area, explicitly set Tuesday, January 20, 2026, as the date for their onslaught, accusing residents of outright disobedience.
One letter, scrawled in Yoruba and headed “Lati Odo Bandit” (From the Terrorists), warned: “We will come on January 20th, 2026.
Wait for us and prepare for us. We come to bring sorrow to your land in Ikoyi-Ile, Oyo State.”
The second, in broken English, added a cryptic twist: “Bandit information. See, now, three days we work for you.
We said you in Ikoyi-Ile are the government that sent us. Wait for us.”
These messages not only demanded payment of unauthorized taxes but also promised to “unleash terror and bring nothing but tears and pains,” amplifying the dread among villagers.
Residents reacted swiftly to the threats, with many barricading themselves indoors or fleeing to safer areas nearby.
As panic spread through the community, local leaders urgently appealed to authorities for immediate protection, highlighting how the warnings triggered mass evacuations and disrupted daily life.
One villager, speaking anonymously amid the chaos, described the atmosphere as “a shadow of death hanging over us,” underscoring the psychological toll on families already scarred by regional violence.
In response, the Oyo State Police Command sprang into action, confirming the notes’ existence and deploying additional forces to the area.
Commissioner of Police Femi Haruna ordered intensified patrols, stop-and-search operations, and 24-hour surveillance to deter any incursion.
Police Public Relations Officer Olayinka Ayanlade emphasized their commitment, stating that investigators debriefed the note’s discoverer while launching a full probe into its origins and authenticity.
“We urge calm and vigilance,” Ayanlade added, as officers dominated strategic points to safeguard lives and property.
This incident follows a harrowing attack just days earlier in nearby Oloka village, where terrorists ambushed and killed five National Park Service officers at the Old Oyo National Park.
That midnight raid, which left several others injured, exposed the growing audacity of terrorist groups in Oyo’s forested southwest, where they have imposed extortion schemes since 2023.
Security analysts point to this pattern, noting that Oriire’s rural vulnerabilities have fueled a surge in violent crimes, putting farmers and communities at constant risk.
Meanwhile, social media amplified calls for federal intervention, with activists urging the Nigerian Army and other agencies to reinforce local defenses.
As the January 20 deadline looms, Ikoyi-Ile’s fate hinges on swift governmental action, but residents remain resolute in their refusal to bow to terrorist demands.
For now, the town holds its breath, hoping enhanced security will avert disaster and restore peace to their beleaguered homeland.
