Terrorists have escalated fear in the Utono community in Ngaski Local Government Area (LGA) of Kebbi State, Nigeria, by sending a threatening letter demanding ₦100 million before they would be permitted to enter the town, according to local reports.
The letter, allegedly delivered to community leaders in the early hours of Thursday, February 19 or 20, 2026, warned residents not to dismiss the message as a joke. It stated that the group intended to come to “preach,” but attached the steep financial demand as a condition for their entry.
“This is not a joke. We are coming to preach. You must pay us ₦100 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.
The message also referenced a previous attack on the Woru community in Kiama LGA, Kwara State, where a similar warning was allegedly ignored and lives were reportedly lost, intensifying fear among residents of Utono.
A local source, speaking on condition of anonymity due to safety concerns, said the letter has thrown the community into panic, with families reportedly discussing safety plans and heightened anxiety over a potential attack.
In response to the threat, the Kebbi State Government confirmed that security agencies have been deployed to the area to forestall any possible violence.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ahmed Idris, stated that security forces have been positioned around Utono and neighbouring settlements, including air surveillance assets, as authorities work to reassure residents and prevent any incursion.
The development comes amid rising insecurity in rural parts of Kebbi and neighbouring northwestern states, where armed groups have increasingly engaged in extortion, kidnappings, and violent raids on remote communities.
Authorities have reiterated their commitment to safeguarding lives and property and urged residents to remain vigilant and cooperate with security agencies.
