Gunmen Abduct Five Women in Ekiti, Demand N100m Ransom

Gunmen have abducted five women from Erinmope-Ekiti in Moba Local Government Area of Ekiti State and are demanding a ransom of N100 million for their release.

The abduction occurred on Saturday evening when the assailants reportedly stormed the victims’ residence at about 7pm and took the women away at gunpoint.

The head of the family, Muhammad Saliu Okanlawon, also known as Elebenla, said the attackers fired shots on arrival while male members of the household were away at the mosque.

According to Okanlawon, those abducted were wives and children of his younger brother and son. He identified the victims as Kehinde Mahmud, Adijat Hussein, Hawawu Suleiman, Fatima, and another woman also named Fatima. He disclosed that one of the victims was nine months pregnant, while another was nursing a baby.

He said the family became aware of the incident only after returning from the mosque to find that the five women were missing.

Security agencies were immediately alerted, leading to the deployment of operatives from the police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Amotekun, and other outfits. However, the abductors were not apprehended.

Okanlawon said security officials later informed the family that the kidnappers did not escape through the usual route linking Ekiti to Osin in Kwara State. It is suspected that they blended into the community to evade detection.

He added that the abductors contacted the family once to demand a ransom of N100 million but have not made further contact since then.

Appealing to the Ekiti State Government and security agencies, Okanlawon described the situation as distressing, particularly given the condition of the pregnant woman among those abducted. He noted that the family has lived peacefully in the community for more than 70 years and lacks the means to raise such an amount.

The family has called on authorities to intensify efforts to rescue the victims and ensur e their safe return.