Kidnappers make U-turn, detain ransom bearers, insist on N100m to release heavily pregnant victim, others

Two family members connected to five women abducted by gunmen in Erinmope-Ekiti, located in the Moba Local Government Area of Ekiti State, were also taken by the kidnappers after the family delivered a ransom of N10 million.

The assailants are now demanding N100 million for the release of all seven captives.

Nigerian Tribune, on January 24, reported that gunmen invaded the Erinmope-Ekiti community and kidnapped five women, including a nursing mother and an expectant mother who is nine months pregnant, along with three others.

Initially, the abductors demanded a ransom of N100 million from the family for the victims’ release.

Speaking with journalists on Monday, the head of the family, Saliu Okanlawon, disclosed that following negotiations, the kidnappers agreed to accept N10 million.

However, he lamented that after the ransom was delivered, the gunmen reneged on the agreement and instead detained the two family members who brought the money.

According to him, the ransom was handed over last Friday, February 6, 2026, at a location in Orun-Ago, Omu-Aran, before the emissaries were moved to Idofin in Oke-Ero Local Government Area of Kwara State.

“Our family has been traumatised by this incident. We struggled and managed to raise N10 million, hoping that the kidnappers would show mercy and release the five women earlier abducted.

“But we were thrown into deeper pain when we received a call that the two of my brothers who took the ransom had also been held hostage. This is pure wickedness,” Okanlawon said.

He added that the kidnappers claimed the money was insufficient despite earlier agreements, and have since demanded the full N100 million ransom before releasing the victims.

Okanlawon identified the five abducted women as Kehinde Mahmud, Adijat Hussein, Hawawu Suleiman, Fatima, and another Fatima, while the two additional captives were named as Ibrahim Soliu and Mohammad Soliu.

Appealing for intervention, he called on the Ekiti State Government and other relevant stakeholders to assist the family in securing the release of the seven victims.

According to him, “We are appealing to the government to come to our aid and rescue us from this ordeal. We don’t even know what to do again.

“One of the victims is carrying a nine-month-old pregnancy. You can imagine the kind of trauma she is going through. This is indeed a very painful experience for our family.” (Nigerian Tribune)