By Peter Omopo
The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to strengthen security presence in communities within Ekiti North I Federal Constituency following a surge in kidnappings, killings and other violent crimes in the area.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved by the House spokesman, Akin Rotimi, during plenary presided over by the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas.
Presenting the motion, Rotimi raised concerns over what he described as a growing wave of kidnappings, killings and violent attacks across several communities in the Ekiti North I (Ikole/Oye) Federal Constituency.
He listed some of the affected areas to include Oke-Ako, Ipao, Irele, Itapaji, Iyemero and Ijowa in Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State.
According to him, recent reports have indicated an increase in kidnapping incidents along the Oke-Ako, Ipao and Irele corridor where criminal elements operating from nearby forests have abducted residents, farmers and travellers, creating widespread fear among the local population.
The lawmaker also cited a disturbing incident that occurred in late February 2026 in which a middle-aged woman was abducted, sexually assaulted and later killed by kidnappers in the Ajoni area.
He said the attackers allegedly demanded a ransom of ₦1.5 million along with illicit drugs and other unusual items before releasing the victim’s remains.
Rotimi further revealed that during attempts by community members to negotiate or deliver ransom related to the incident, additional individuals were reportedly abducted by the same criminal group, worsening the security situation in the affected communities.
He also drew attention to attacks on farmers in the Irele axis, noting that several residents had been kidnapped while working on their farmlands.
According to him, an elderly woman popularly known as “Mummy Isaac” was reportedly killed during one of the attacks.
Rotimi told lawmakers that some victims had been held in captivity for extended periods, including a resident of Oke-Ako who reportedly spent about two weeks in captivity before regaining freedom in February 2026 after being moved across state lines.
He warned that armed criminal groups have increasingly established bases in forests surrounding the affected communities, using the locations to launch attacks and evade arrest.
The lawmaker noted that the forests along the Ekiti, Kogi and Kwara border corridor have become hideouts for criminal groups who carry out attacks on rural communities and highways before retreating into the difficult terrain.
Following the adoption of the motion, the House urged the Federal Government through the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army and other relevant security agencies to immediately intensify security operations in Oke-Ako, Ipao, Irele, Itapaji, Iyemero and neighbouring communities in Ikole Local Government Area.
Lawmakers also called on the Office of the National Security Adviser to coordinate a joint security operation involving relevant federal agencies to identify and dismantle criminal camps operating in forests around the Ekiti, Kogi and Kwara border axis.
The House further mandated its Committees on Defence, Army, Police Affairs, and National Security and Intelligence to engage with the relevant security agencies to determine the measures being taken to address the situation and report back within four weeks.
They also urged security agencies to strengthen intelligence gathering and surveillance operations in the affected communities and surrounding forests to prevent further attacks.
In recent months, several rural communities in northern Ekiti have experienced an increase in kidnappings and violent attacks, particularly in areas bordering neighbouring states.
Communities within Ikole Local Government Area have been among the hardest hit, with farmers, traders and travellers frequently targeted by criminal gangs.
Security analysts and community leaders have linked the growing insecurity to the vast forest belts stretching across Ekiti, Kogi and Kwara states, which have reportedly become safe havens for armed groups launching attacks on rural settlements and highways.
Residents have repeatedly raised concerns about inadequate security presence and the vulnerability of farmers who travel long distances through isolated rural routes to reach their farmlands.
The situation has heightened fears among residents and disrupted economic activities in many agrarian communities where farming remains the primary source of livelihood.
