Veritas News Hub | Security Desk | Kwara, April 13, 2026
Families of victims abducted in Ikerin-Opin community, Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, are in distress after their abductors issued a fresh ransom demand of N300 million and threatened to kill the remaining 15 captives if payment is not made immediately.
The alarm was raised by Ms. Mulika Dada, a relative of one of the abductees, who said the kidnappers contacted her father directly in the past 24 hours to press for payment. According to Ms. Dada, the criminals initially demanded N300 million but later “reduced” the amount to N270 million after her father pleaded for leniency.
“Pay today or we kill them”
Ms. Dada told Veritas News Hub that her father informed the abductors he had only been able to raise a few million naira. The offer was rejected outright. The kidnappers insisted the full N270 million must be paid today and warned that failure would result in the execution of all 15 people still in their custody.
The threat has heightened anxiety among families and residents of Ikerin-Opin, a farming community in Ekiti LGA. Many families are now scrambling to raise funds while simultaneously appealing to government and security agencies for urgent intervention.
“The community is in tears,” a resident who asked not to be named said. “People don’t know where to turn. These are our brothers, mothers, and children. We are begging the government and security agencies to act fast before we lose more lives.”
Ikerin-Opin lies in Ekiti LGA, an area that shares boundaries with forest reserves and rural routes often exploited by armed groups moving between Kwara, Kogi, and Osun States. Over the last 18 months, Kwara’s border communities have witnessed repeated cases of kidnapping for ransom, attacks on farms, and abductions along highways.
Security analysts say the demand for hundreds of millions of naira reflects a worrying escalation. Kidnappers previously asked for amounts in the low millions. The jump to N270-N300 million suggests criminal networks are becoming bolder and more organized, while also betting on desperation and fear to force payment.
The families say they have reported the latest threat to local authorities and are cooperating with security agencies. However, they are appealing for more visible, coordinated rescue efforts rather than leaving them to negotiate with armed captors.
“Raising N270 million is impossible for farmers and traders,” Ms. Dada said. “We are begging Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the Nigeria Police, DSS, and the military to deploy tactical teams and secure the release of our people alive. We cannot afford to lose 15 souls.”
Community leaders in Ekiti LGA have also called for increased patrols, intelligence gathering, and joint operations in the forests surrounding Ikerin-Opin, Opin, and neighboring villages. They argue that only sustained security presence will deter future abductions.
As of the time of filing this report, the Kwara State Police Command and the Department of State Services had not issued an official statement on the ransom demand or ongoing rescue efforts. The Office of the Special Adviser on Security Matters to the Governor also did not respond to requests for comment.
Security agencies have, in past incidents, cautioned families against paying ransom, arguing it emboldens kidnappers. At the same time, families facing immediate death threats often feel they have no choice.
The Ikerin-Opin case adds to a long list of kidnapping incidents across Nigeria’s North Central zone. The National Bureau of Statistics 2024 Crime Experience Survey reported that kidnapping remained one of the most prevalent violent crimes, with ransom demands rising year-on-year.
Civil society groups have repeatedly urged the federal and state governments to strengthen intelligence, improve rural policing, and address the economic conditions that allow banditry to thrive. For residents of Ikerin-Opin, those policy discussions feel distant compared to the immediate threat to 15 lives.
Call for urgent intervention
With the kidnappers’ deadline reportedly set for today, pressure is mounting on authorities to act swiftly. Families, community members, and rights groups are united in one demand: secure the safe release of the victims without further loss of life.
Veritas News Hub will continue to monitor developments and update the public as new information becomes available from security agencies and the affected families.
_For tips, updates, or eyewitness accounts on this story, contact Veritas News Hub at veritashub4@gmail.com or WhatsApp 07039617838._
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