By Idowu Adebomi, Ado-Ekiti
Residents of six communities in Ajoni Local Government Area of Ekiti State have issued a desperate appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Ekiti State Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, warning that a looming genocide may occur unless urgent security intervention is deployed to their area.
The affected communities—Itapaji, Iyemero, Oke-Ako, Irele, Ijowa and Ipao—said they have been under sustained and coordinated attacks by armed terrorists for years, with violence intensifying in recent months. Scores have reportedly been killed, while many residents have fled their ancestral homes in fear. Those who remain, they said, live in constant terror with nowhere else to go.
Community leaders disclosed that about 40 persons are currently being held captive by the attackers. Victims were allegedly abducted from Ondo, Edo, Kogi, Ekiti and Kwara states. According to them, thousands of residents now spend their days and nights in anxiety, uncertain of when the next attack will come.
Last Saturday, indigenes of Irele staged a protest, lamenting the alleged seizure of their farmlands by armed men. Leaders added that neighbouring communities in Kogi and Kwara states—including Ogbe, Eruku, Koro, Ejuku, Ponyan, Oga and Ogbom—are facing similar threats, suggesting a wider regional security breakdown.
The communities also accused their elected representatives—Senator Cyril Fasuyi and House of Representatives member Akin Rotimi—of failing to visit or publicly address their plight, alleging that political activities have taken precedence over the security of constituents.
“We are shedding tears of blood,” leaders from Ekamarun said. “No political leader has visited us—not even members of the National Assembly. Our suffering has not even been mentioned on the floor of the House of Assembly.”
While acknowledging past and ongoing efforts by the local government chairman and Governor Oyebanji, the communities urged the state government to act decisively before it is too late. They renewed calls for state and local government policing, lamenting that the Amotekun Corps is not adequately armed to confront heavily armed terrorists.
The situation worsened last week when a middle-aged woman was allegedly raped to death. The attackers reportedly demanded N1.5 million, Indian hemp, cocaine, a hard drug known as ICE, and cartons of canned beer before releasing her corpse. Earlier, the woman’s son had been shot during the attack and is currently receiving treatment at Ikole General Hospital.
The traditional war chief of one of the communities, Chief Kehinde Akogun, said the residents do not deal in hard drugs and had to raise cash to retrieve the woman’s remains. He added that shortly after releasing the corpse, the terrorists abducted four men and demanded two virgins as ransom for their freedom.
Leaders estimate that over 30,000 people across the six communities are now effectively under siege, with attackers allegedly encamped in the vast forests stretching across Ekiti, Kogi and Kwara states. They claimed the armed men have blocked access to farms, water sources, food supplies and healthcare facilities.
In a jointly signed letter to the President and the Governor, the communities warned:
“Another mass killing is waiting to happen. It could be tonight. Children, women, the elderly and people living with disabilities are at the mercy of heavily armed terrorists who have encamped in our ancestral forests. We have been told they are coming to invade our homes and seize our land.”
Signatories to the letter included Abimbola Omotoyinbo and Olubola Adeoye (Itapaji), Tosin Babalola and Chief Kehinde Abejide (Irele), Femi Bodunde (Oke-Ako), Joseph Osanipin (Iyemero) and Bayo Dada (Ipao).
The communities stressed that although they are capable of defending themselves, they have restrained their people in respect for the rule of law and constitutional order.
“We are children of warriors, but we believe in the rule of law, not the rule of the jungle,” the letter stated. “Our patience is running out. We do not want condolence visits or relief materials after we have been killed in large numbers. This is the time to act. A minute of delay is dangerous.”arm, Appeal to Tinubu, Oyebanji Over Terror Siege
By Idowu Adebomi, Ado-Ekiti
Residents of six communities in Ajoni Local Government Area of Ekiti State have issued a desperate appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Ekiti State Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, warning that a looming genocide may occur unless urgent security intervention is deployed to their area.
The affected communities—Itapaji, Iyemero, Oke-Ako, Irele, Ijowa and Ipao—said they have been under sustained and coordinated attacks by armed terrorists for years, with violence intensifying in recent months. Scores have reportedly been killed, while many residents have fled their ancestral homes in fear. Those who remain, they said, live in constant terror with nowhere else to go.
Community leaders disclosed that about 40 persons are currently being held captive by the attackers. Victims were allegedly abducted from Ondo, Edo, Kogi, Ekiti and Kwara states. According to them, thousands of residents now spend their days and nights in anxiety, uncertain of when the next attack will come.
Last Saturday, indigenes of Irele staged a protest, lamenting the alleged seizure of their farmlands by armed men. Leaders added that neighbouring communities in Kogi and Kwara states—including Ogbe, Eruku, Koro, Ejuku, Ponyan, Oga and Ogbom—are facing similar threats, suggesting a wider regional security breakdown.
The communities also accused their elected representatives—Senator Cyril Fasuyi and House of Representatives member Akin Rotimi—of failing to visit or publicly address their plight, alleging that political activities have taken precedence over the security of constituents.
“We are shedding tears of blood,” leaders from Ekamarun said. “No political leader has visited us—not even members of the National Assembly. Our suffering has not even been mentioned on the floor of the House of Assembly.”
While acknowledging past and ongoing efforts by the local government chairman and Governor Oyebanji, the communities urged the state government to act decisively before it is too late. They renewed calls for state and local government policing, lamenting that the Amotekun Corps is not adequately armed to confront heavily armed terrorists.
The situation worsened last week when a middle-aged woman was allegedly raped to death. The attackers reportedly demanded N1.5 million, Indian hemp, cocaine, a hard drug known as ICE, and cartons of canned beer before releasing her corpse. Earlier, the woman’s son had been shot during the attack and is currently receiving treatment at Ikole General Hospital.
The traditional war chief of one of the communities, Chief Kehinde Akogun, said the residents do not deal in hard drugs and had to raise cash to retrieve the woman’s remains. He added that shortly after releasing the corpse, the terrorists abducted four men and demanded two virgins as ransom for their freedom.
Leaders estimate that over 30,000 people across the six communities are now effectively under siege, with attackers allegedly encamped in the vast forests stretching across Ekiti, Kogi and Kwara states. They claimed the armed men have blocked access to farms, water sources, food supplies and healthcare facilities.
In a jointly signed letter to the President and the Governor, the communities warned:
“Another mass killing is waiting to happen. It could be tonight. Children, women, the elderly and people living with disabilities are at the mercy of heavily armed terrorists who have encamped in our ancestral forests. We have been told they are coming to invade our homes and seize our land.”
Signatories to the letter included Abimbola Omotoyinbo and Olubola Adeoye (Itapaji), Tosin Babalola and Chief Kehinde Abejide (Irele), Femi Bodunde (Oke-Ako), Joseph Osanipin (Iyemero) and Bayo Dada (Ipao).
The communities stressed that although they are capable of defending themselves, they have restrained their people in respect for the rule of law and constitutional order.
“We are children of warriors, but we believe in the rule of law, not the rule of the jungle,” the letter stated. “Our patience is running out. We do not want condolence visits or relief materials after we have been killed in large numbers. This is the time to act. A minute of delay is dangerous.”