Residents of several communities in Ekiti State are raising alarm over worsening insecurity after a middle-aged woman was reportedly abducted and raped to death by suspected kidnappers in the Ajoni area.
According to local accounts, the woman was taken by the criminals and later died after being repeatedly assaulted. The attackers allegedly demanded a ransom of ₦1.5 million along with drugs and other items before they would release her corpse.
Community sources say the kidnappers requested substances such as “Canadian Loud,” cocaine, “Mkpuru Mmiri” (crystal meth), as well as cartons of beer as part of the ransom conditions.
Unable to source the drugs mentioned, villagers reportedly came together to raise the cash equivalent instead. Four men from the community volunteered to deliver the ransom to the kidnappers in an attempt to retrieve the woman’s body.
However, the situation reportedly worsened when the four men were seized by the kidnappers during the attempt.
The criminals are said to have sent another message to the community, demanding that two virgin girls be provided in exchange for the release of the captured men, threatening to kill them if the demand was not met.
The development has sparked fear across nearby communities, with residents claiming that armed groups have been operating in the area for years with little intervention.
Locals say at least six towns — Itapaji, Iyemero, Oke-Ako, Irele, Ijowa, and Ipao — are currently experiencing severe security challenges. According to residents, the attackers move freely around the region and have disrupted access to basic services such as water sources and healthcare facilities.
Community members also expressed frustration over what they describe as silence from their political representatives, alleging that their senator and member of the House of Representatives have yet to address the crisis beyond issuing condolence messages.
Some residents warned that the continued attacks could escalate into a wider humanitarian crisis if urgent action is not taken.
The pan-Yoruba socio-political group has also confirmed receiving reports about the incident and called on authorities to respond swiftly to the deteriorating security situation in the affected communities.
Residents are now appealing to the Federal Government and security agencies to urgently intervene and restore safety to the affected towns. Many say the attackers are known to locals and insist that decisive action can be taken if authorities move quickly.