By Huldah Shado
The abduction of five women in Erinmope-Ekiti, Moba Local Government Area of Ekiti State, has worsened after two additional relatives were reportedly taken hostage by the same kidnappers, bringing the number of family members in captivity to seven.
Gunmen had invaded the community on Friday, January 24, 2026, and abducted five women, including a nursing mother and a woman who was nine months pregnant. The kidnappers were said to have demanded N100 million ransom for their release.
Family members said two men, Soliu Mohammad and Soliu Ibrahim, were abducted while attempting to deliver a negotiated ransom of N10 million.
According to the family, the men were instructed to take the money to Orun-Ago in Omu-Aran on Friday, February 6, 2026, but were later redirected to Idofin in Oke-Ero Local Government Area of Kwara State, where they were allegedly seized.
Speaking by telephone, the head of the family, Alhaji Muhammad Saliu Okanlawon, said the family had struggled to raise the N10 million after repeated pleas for mercy.
“We were thrown into deeper pain when we received a call that the two brothers who took the ransom had also been held hostage,” he said, adding that the abductors claimed the money was too small.
Okanlawon appealed to the government and security agencies to intervene urgently, stressing that one of the victims is heavily pregnant.
As of the time of filing this report, there was no official statement from security agencies.
