Dismantle Criminal Camps On Ekiti-Kogi-Kwara Boundaries, Reps Tell ONSA

The House of Representatives has called on the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to coordinate a joint security operation involving relevant federal security agencies to identify and dismantle criminal camps operating in forests along the Ekiti–Kogi–Kwara border axis.

The House equally urged the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army and other relevant security agencies, to immediately intensify security operations in the Oke-Ako, Ipao, Irele, Itapaji, Iyemero and neighbouring communities in Ikole local government area of Ekiti State

The Green Chamber also asked security agencies to strengthen intelligence-gathering and surveillance operations within the affected communities and surrounding forests in order to prevent further attacks.

These resolutions followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance, moved by Spokesperson of the House, Hon. Akintunde Rotimi (APC, Ekiti) at plenary yesterday.

Moving the motion, Rotimi noted the growing wave of kidnappings, killings and violent attacks in several communities within Ekiti North 1 (Ikole/Oye) Federal Constituency, particularly within the Oke-Ako, Ipao, Irele, Itapaji, Iyemero and Ijowa axis of Ikole local government area.

He further noted 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, thereby creating widespread fear and insecurity among the local population.

Rotimi recalled the 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, after which the perpetrators allegedly demanded a ransom of N1.5 million together with illicit drugs and other unusual items before releasing the victim’s remains.

He said 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; within Ekiti State.

The lawmaker lamented the several attacks on farmers within the Irele axis where residents had been abducted from their farmlands, and in one instance an elderly woman popularly known within the community as “Mummy Isaac” was reportedly killed during an attack.

He observed that the forests along the Ekiti–Kogi–Kwara border corridor have increasingly been exploited by criminal groups as hideouts from which attacks are launched on rural communities, thereby complicating security operations and allowing perpetrators to evade arrest.

Rotimi noted that the persistent insecurity within the Oke-Ako, Ipao, Irele, Itapaji, Iyemero and Ijowa axis had forced many farmers to abandon their farmlands for fear of attacks or abduction, thereby threatening agricultural productivity and local food supply within the affected communities.

He expressed concern that, “the continued presence of criminal elements within surrounding forests poses a serious risk not only to residents of the affected communities but also to travellers, traders, students and other road users who rely on these routes for their daily economic and social activities.

“The escalation of kidnapping incidents in the constituency, if left unchecked, could undermine public confidence in security institutions and further destabilise rural economic and social life within Ekiti State.”

Adopting the motion, 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 to the House within four weeks.

It also called for improved collaboration between federal security agencies and local security initiatives, including recognised community-based security outfits, to enhance early warning systems and rapid response capabilities.