By George Omagbemi
In a stark reminder of Nigeria’s deepening security crisis, gunmen stormed the Eleyewo community in Ilu-Abo, Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State, on Saturday, 21 February 2026, abducting a married couple and wounding a neighbour in a brazen late-night assault that has further inflamed fears among residents. The victims have since been identified as Mr. Jamiu Olawale and his wife, both residents of Olaribigba Estate, who were ambushed at the front of their home shortly after returning from their shop at about 9:45 p.m. Unknown assailants reportedly emerged from the surrounding bush, opened sporadic fire, and whisked the couple away to an undisclosed location. Their neighbour, Mr. Patrick Ilumaro, sustained gunshot injuries and is currently receiving medical treatment.
The attack represents the second violent incursion in Eleyewo within a month, occurring just days after armed men murdered Oba Kehinde Falodun, the Alagamo of Agamo community in the same council area, underscoring the widening reach of bandit networks in southwestern agrarian zones. Residents, enraged by the double tragedy, blocked the Akure-Owo Expressway on Saturday in protest, demanding urgent intervention from state authorities and security agencies. Reports now indicate that the kidnappers have contacted the family, demanding a ₦80 million ransom for the release of Olawale and his wife, fueling anxiety over their fate and the growing menace.
Security experts say the Ondo incidents reflect a broader trend of organised criminal syndicates exploiting porous rural landscapes, where “the absence of persistent, coordinated security presence has created fertile ground for armed groups to operate with impunity.” Professor Ikechukwu Onwuka, a senior analyst at the Centre for Peace and Security Studies, warns that “without robust collaboration between federal forces and community-led intelligence, such atrocities will continue to surge, undermining trust and dragging vulnerable communities deeper into fear.” Internationally, scholars such as Dr. Emma Campbell of the Global Security Institute have noted that “ransom-driven kidnappings signal a dangerous evolution from isolated criminality to structured predation, blending terror tactics with economic extortion.”
The Ondo State Police Command says tactical teams are combing neighbouring forests in pursuit of the perpetrators, urging citizens to provide credible information to aid rescue efforts.
This incident, beyond its immediate human toll, highlights the structural failures in rural security architecture, challenging authorities to reassess deployment, intelligence gathering, and community protection strategies to stem an alarming pattern of violence that has now reached the heart of Ondo’s traditional strongholds.
Leave a Reply