By Blessing Bello, Reporting
THE House of Representatives has called on security agencies to urgently beef up operations in parts of Ekiti North 1 Federal Constituency, comprising Ikole, Oye and surrounding communities, following growing concern over escalating killings, kidnappings and violent attacks in the area.
The resolution came after the adoption of a motion moved by Hon. Akintunde Rotimi on the floor of the House on Wednesday during plenary.
Moving the motion, Rotimi drew attention to Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which enshrines the security and welfare of the people as the primary responsibility of government.
The lawmaker expressed deep concern over the rising wave of abductions, murders and attacks in several communities within his constituency, particularly along the Oke-Ako, Ipao, Irele, Itapaji, Iyemero and Ijowa axis of Ikole Local Government Area.
He told the House that there had been recent reports of kidnapping incidents along the Oke-Ako/Ipao/Irele corridor, where criminal elements operating from nearby forests have abducted residents, farmers and travellers, spreading fear and insecurity among the local population.
Rotimi drew particular attention to a disturbing incident in late February 2026, in which a middle-aged woman was reportedly abducted, sexually assaulted and killed by kidnappers in the Ajoni area. He said the perpetrators allegedly demanded a ransom of ₦1.5 million, along with illicit drugs and other unusual items, before releasing the victim’s remains.
“Also aware that during attempts by members of the community to negotiate or deliver ransom in connection with the incident, additional individuals were reportedly abducted by the same criminal group, further escalating tensions and insecurity within the affected communities in Ekiti State,” he added.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker also highlighted repeated attacks on farmers within the Irele axis, where residents have been seized from their farmlands. In one harrowing instance, an elderly woman known locally as “Mummy Isaac” was reportedly killed during an assault.
According to Rotimi, other victims have spent long periods in captivity, including a resident of Oke-Ako who reportedly spent around two weeks in captivity before being released in February 2026, having been transported across state lines.
He informed his colleagues that communities including Itapaji, Iyemero, Oke-Ako, Irele, Ijowa and Ipao have reported that armed criminal groups have effectively occupied surrounding forests and rural routes, using these locations as operational bases for kidnapping and attacks on residents.
Rotimi expressed alarm that the forests along the Ekiti–Kogi–Kwara border corridor have increasingly become hideouts for criminal groups launching attacks on rural communities, complicating security operations and enabling perpetrators to evade arrest.
He also lamented that the persistent insecurity has forced many farmers to abandon their farmland for fear of attacks or abduction, threatening agricultural productivity and local food supplies in the affected communities.
Consequently, the House, presided over by Speaker Rt Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, unanimously adopted the motion by voice vote.
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 the affected communities in Ikole Local Government Area.
It also called on the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to coordinate a joint security operation involving federal agencies to identify and dismantle criminal camps operating within the forests around these Ekiti communities.
Furthermore, the House mandated its Committees on Defence, Army, Police Affairs, and National Security and Intelligence to engage with the relevant security agencies to ascertain the steps being taken to address the situation and report back within four weeks.
The Green Chamber urged security agencies to strengthen intelligence-gathering and surveillance operations within the affected communities and surrounding forests to prevent further attacks.
It also stressed the urgency of improved collaboration between federal security agencies and local security initiatives, including recognised community-based outfits, to enhance early warning systems and rapid response capabilities.
Finally, the House observed a minute of silence in honour of victims who have lost their lives to kidnapping and violent criminal activities in Ekiti North 1 Federal Constituency and across the country.
What's your reaction?
