Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Pierre Antoine
Communities in Ekamarun, Ajoni Local Government Area of Ekiti State are reeling from a shocking series of kidnapping incidents marked by unusually brutal and exploitative ransom demands by suspected armed groups operating across rural parts of the state. Recent reports indicate that the violence and extortion by these criminal elements have escalated to unprecedented levels.
According to local leaders and community testimonies, the drama first unfolded when a middle-aged woman, held captive by the gang, died in their custody. Instead of releasing her body to her family for burial, the abductors demanded an extensive ransom — not for a living hostage, but for the corpse itself. The bizarre conditions reportedly included ₦1.5 million in cash, cartons of canned beer, cannabis, cocaine and a synthetic drug known as “ICE” before the remains of the deceased would be handed over. Villagers, despite profound shame and distress, pooled resources to meet the initial ransom demand and secure the woman’s body for burial.
As if the horrific exploitation of a corpse were not enough, a second layer of violence unfolded shortly thereafter. Four men from the community who went as ransom bearers — carrying the funds and other items intended for the abductors — were themselves seized by the same group. After detaining these men, the kidnappers reportedly raised their demands, insisting on additional money and the delivery of “virgins” as ransom for the released captives. The inclusion of human beings as barter alongside cash and contraband has sent shockwaves through the six affected communities in Ajoni LCDA.
Community leaders from towns including Itapaji, Iyemero, Oke-Ako, Irele, Ijowa, and Ipao described the situation in a petition addressed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Biodun Oyebanji. They warned that the cycle of kidnappings, killings and ransom extortion is threatening to precipitate a humanitarian crisis if urgent security responses are not deployed to protect villagers and restore basic freedom of movement and safety.
According to the letters from community representatives, the abductors have effectively established semi-permanent bases of operation in forested regions that traverse Ekiti and neighbouring states, exploiting dense terrain to evade security forces. Residents report that daily life has deteriorated, with access to water, food, farm work, and schooling significantly disrupted by the ongoing threat of attack. Many families feel trapped, unsure whether to flee or stay in homes now regarded as unsafe.
Beyond the grotesque ransom demands in this specific incident, the region has seen a pattern of kidnappings with escalating brutality. Other recent cases in Ekiti have involved entire families abducted with high ransom demands, extended periods in captivity, and executions of hostages who could not secure their release. One such earlier abduction in Erinmope-Ekiti saw a group of women taken and initially subjected to ransom demands as high as ₦100 million, later reducing after negotiations before they were helped to freedom; one victim died in captivity due to exhaustion and trauma.
Security analysts suggest that the continued mobility of these armed groups across forest boundaries spanning Ekiti, Kwara, Kogi and neighbouring states allows them to carry out repeated kidnappings without sustained pursuit from law enforcement. The combination of rugged geography, limited patrol coverage, and resource constraints contributes to the vulnerability of rural dwellers and intensifies reliance on community self-help mechanisms that are often insufficient in the face of well-armed attackers.
Human rights observers have condemned both the heinous ransom for a corpse and the demands for human collateral — a demand that revives disturbing concerns about gender-based violence and the commodification of human beings in criminal negotiations. Terming these demands “an affront to human dignity,” advocacy groups have called on state and federal authorities to escalate targeted security deployments, establish safer transport corridors, and strengthen emergency response systems for kidnapping victims and their families.
The petitions from local leaders make clear that fear and despair are now widespread, with many residents expressing that the insurgent activity could escalate to a broader humanitarian catastrophe without swift intervention. As of now, there has been no official public update from the Ekiti State Police Command or the Nigerian security agencies confirming arrests connected to the incident or outlining operational responses to these multifaceted threats.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments