Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A fresh wave of terror swept through Ekiti State on the afternoon of Wednesday, May 20, 2026, when masked gunmen ambushed and abducted the Vice Chairman of Ilejemeje Local Government Area, Hon. Chief Mrs. Grace Ogunleye, along the isolated Ipere–Iludun Ekiti road. The council official was returning to Ido Ekiti after an official visit to the Ilejemeje Local Government Secretariat when armed men, described by sources as masked and wielding sophisticated weapons, intercepted her vehicle. She was forced to abandon her official Toyota Corolla car and personal belongings before being whisked away into the bush. The vehicle was later found abandoned by the roadside, while her mobile phone was switched off, making all attempts to reach her futile. The abduction, which has heightened fears across the state, prompted the Ekiti State Government to order the immediate closure of secondary schools in Ilejemeje Local Government Area, with students sitting for their Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) relocated to community halls for safety.
According to sources familiar with the incident, Ogunleye had earlier visited the Ilejemeje Local Government Secretariat before heading toward Ido Ekiti when the attackers struck along the Ipere–Iludun road, a stretch known for its dense vegetation and isolation. The gunmen reportedly forced her out of the car, leaving behind her bag containing valuables, before fleeing into the surrounding bush. The abduction has sent ripples of panic across the state, coming barely three weeks after suspected gunmen kidnapped worshippers in Eda Oniyo within the same local government area—victims who, according to reports, remain in captivity despite the payment of ₦10.5 million and foodstuffs as ransom.
Confirming the development in a statement, the Director of Information and Civic Orientation for Ilejemeje Local Government, Falade Sunday, said security agencies had been alerted and efforts were ongoing to rescue her. “The Vice Chairman of Ilejemeje Local Government, Hon. Chief Mrs. Grace Ogunleye, has reportedly been kidnapped along Ipere–Iludun Ekiti road. According to reports, her vehicle was later found abandoned while her whereabouts remain unknown. Her mobile phone has also been switched off as of the time of filing this report. She had earlier visited Ilejemeje this morning and was returning to Ido Ekiti when the unfortunate incident occurred. Security agencies have been alerted while efforts are ongoing to locate and rescue her safely,” the statement read.
The Chairman of Ilejemeje Local Government, Mr. Alaba Dada, who confirmed the incident to Radio Nigeria, revealed that the kidnappers had already reached out to him and other party leaders in the area via text messages, though the specific ransom demand was not disclosed publicly. Meanwhile, the Ekiti State Government moved swiftly to address the escalating security crisis. In a decisive response, the state ordered the closure of some secondary schools in Ilejemeje Local Government Area. Students sitting for their final SSCE in the affected schools have been relocated to community halls to enable them to continue their examinations. The measure came as the vice chairman remained in captivity.
The abduction has also drawn attention to a troubling pattern of insecurity in the region. On May 18, 2026, the Ekiti State Police Command had issued a statement following a widely circulated video of a female politician whose car was riddled with bullets. The command clarified that the incident was a case of attempted kidnap, not an assassination. The victim had a gunshot injury on her arm and was receiving treatment. Police investigations confirmed that the attack was not politically motivated. Additionally, an Ekiti State High Court in Ado Ekiti recently sentenced two men, Ibrahim Abubakar and Abdullahi Abubakar, to 25 years imprisonment each for kidnapping. The prosecution revealed that the kidnappers used a victim's phone to demand a ransom of ₦10 million, of which only ₦3.25 million was paid.
The abduction of Mrs. Ogunleye is the latest in a series of high-profile kidnappings targeting political officeholders in the South-West. In February 2026, gunmen abducted the wife of a local government chairman in Ondo State along the Akure-Owo road. In April, suspected bandits kidnapped a councillor in Ogun State, releasing him after an undisclosed ransom. The trend has led to growing calls for state police and increased federal intervention. Afenifere, the pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, has repeatedly warned that the South-West is under siege, with bandits and kidnappers operating with near impunity in forested corridors that span across state boundaries.
As the sun set on Wednesday, the people of Ilejemeje were left in mourning and fear. The once-busy Ipere–Iludun road now stands as a silent witness to the abduction of a woman who had dedicated her life to public service. Residents have expressed concern over the increasing cases of kidnapping and insecurity in the area, urging security agencies to intensify surveillance and ensure the safe rescue of the council official. The Ekiti State Police Command, through its spokesperson Sunday Abutu, said details surrounding the incident would be made available later, but as of press time, no arrests had been announced.
For Grace Ogunleye, the journey home from work has become a fight for survival. For the people of Ilejemeje, the question is no longer whether the bandits will strike again, but when. And for a state that has now shut its schools to protect its children, the message is clear: no one is safe, and the forest is always watching.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments