Ekiti Security: Two Kidnap Victims Rescue From Kogi Boarder

The Ekiti State joint security team rescued two kidnap victims and arrested a suspected kidnapper in a coordinated operation conducted in a forest along the Ekiti-Kogi State border on Tuesday, June 10, 2026, delivering a significant security result days before the June 20 governorship election.

The Ekiti State Police Command confirmed the operation, saying operatives from multiple security agencies swept the forest zone after receiving credible intelligence about the location of the victims. The state’s joint security architecture, which includes the Police, Nigerian Army, Amotekun Corps, and local hunters, played a central role in the operation.

Governor Biodun Oyebanji commended the security agencies for the rescue and said his administration would continue to invest in the operational capacity of joint security teams across the state. ‘The safety of every Ekiti citizen remains the topmost priority of this administration,’ Oyebanji said in a statement, calling on residents to continue cooperating with security forces by sharing intelligence about criminal activity in their communities.

Rescue Comes Ahead of June 20 Vote

The timing of the rescue, just 10 days before the governorship election, gives the Oyebanji administration a timely security win that his campaign is expected to highlight on the trail. Political analysts noted that security has been a key concern for Ekiti voters and that demonstrated operational results carry significant weight in the current political environment.

Furthermore, the Ekiti rescue is one of several operations showing results across different states this week. Kwara State Police also confirmed the dismantling of a kidnapping network in the state, arresting seven suspects and recovering a rifle and other firearms. The Kwara operation involved coordinated intelligence activities that identified and neutralised a gang that had been responsible for multiple abductions in the state.

However, the continued captivity of over 40 pupils and teachers from Oriire LGA in Oyo State underscored the contrast between targeted rescue successes and the government’s inability to achieve a full breakthrough in the most high-profile abduction case currently gripping the nation. Still, security officials said all ongoing operations were progressing and that they remained confident of positive outcomes. Meanwhile, NiMet issued a severe weather alert predicting heavy rain and thunderstorms across multiple states over the next 72 hours, including Ekiti, Oyo, Kwara, and Kogi, which could affect both security operations and voter mobilisation efforts in the days ahead. Notably, the forecast prompted emergency management agencies in several states to issue flood preparedness advisories. Consequently, security agencies are operating in an environment shaped not only by criminal threats but also by challenging natural conditions.

Ogun Busts Fake Kidnap Syndicate

In addition, the Ogun State Police Command busted a transnational fake kidnap syndicate, arresting eight foreign nationals who had allegedly been running a ransom scam, inducing victims to pay for the release of relatives they falsely claimed to have abducted. The operation dismantled the fraudulent network and provided relief to multiple families who had been extorted. As a result, law enforcement across Nigeria is confronting a diverse and evolving range of criminal schemes simultaneously.