Ekiti LG Vice Chairman Remanded Over Alleged Self-Kidnapping

ADO-EKITI — The Vice Chairman of Ilejemeje Local Government Area of Ekiti State, Grace Ogunleye, has been remanded at the Ado-Ekiti Correctional Centre following her arraignment before a Chief Magistrate’s Court on charges bordering on conspiracy and alleged self-kidnapping.

Ogunleye was arraigned on Wednesday alongside three other defendants after an investigation by the Ekiti State Police Command into circumstances surrounding her reported abduction in May.

The defendants appeared before Chief Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun at the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Ado-Ekiti, where the prosecution sought their remand pending further legal proceedings.

According to the prosecutor, Akinwale Oriyimi, the police had concluded their preliminary investigation and forwarded the case file to the Ekiti State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice. He subsequently urged the court to remand the accused persons while awaiting the DPP’s review and further directives.

Ruling on the application, Chief Magistrate Adeosun ordered that Ogunleye and the other defendants be remanded at the Ado-Ekiti Correctional Centre pending the next stage of the legal process.

The case has attracted significant public attention following the dramatic circumstances surrounding Ogunleye’s disappearance.

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The vice chairman was declared missing on May 20 after her vehicle was reportedly discovered abandoned along the Ipere–Iludun Ekiti Road. Initial reports indicated that she had been kidnapped by unknown gunmen shortly after leaving the Ilejemeje Local Government Secretariat.

The alleged abduction sparked concern among residents, political associates and security agencies, prompting an intensive search operation.

Days later, Ogunleye was rescued unharmed during a joint operation involving security personnel. At the time, authorities had not disclosed details of the circumstances leading to her recovery.

However, subsequent investigations by the police reportedly uncovered evidence suggesting that the kidnapping had been staged.

According to the Ekiti State Police Command, findings from the investigation indicated that the purported abduction was allegedly orchestrated to raise funds aimed at settling personal financial obligations and outstanding political commitments.

Speaking on the development, the spokesperson for the Ekiti State Police Command, Sunday Abutu, confirmed that the suspects were charged following what he described as a thorough investigation into the matter.

The police have yet to provide further details regarding the specific roles allegedly played by each of the defendants in the purported scheme.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of Ilejemeje Local Government Area, Pius Dada, has condemned the alleged act, describing it as embarrassing and unacceptable.

Dada expressed concern over the potential impact of the incident on public confidence in government institutions and security agencies.

He warned that such actions, if proven, could undermine public trust and create unnecessary panic among citizens.

The council chairman also stressed that public office holders must be held accountable for their actions, insisting that no individual would be shielded from justice if found culpable.

The case has been adjourned pending legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions and further proceedings before the court.

The development continues to generate reactions across Ekiti State, with many residents calling for a thorough and transparent prosecution to ensure accountability and deter similar incidents in the future.

Ekiti LG Vice Chairman Remanded Over Alleged Self-Kidnapping

State Police Framework Ready Soon, Presidency Tells Nigerians

The presidency said Thursday that a constitutional amendment to establish state police will soon happen following months of consultations between the executive, the National Assembly, and security authorities.

President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, briefed correspondents after a consultative meeting at the State House, Abuja, on Thursday, June 4, 2026. According to Gbajabiamila, discussions on the proposed state police framework began several months ago following a directive by President Bola Tinubu, and substantial progress has been achieved in developing the legal and constitutional pathways required for implementation.

“We started deliberations in the last three or four months on how to go about the establishment of state police as directed by Mr President,” he said. “Establishing state police is not something that you do with the snap of the fingers. There is a lot involved in terms of constitution and legalities, and thank God we have now gained a lot of traction.” Gbajabiamila expressed optimism that the constitutional amendment required to create state police would be introduced soon. “Hopefully, the amendment will come shortly, and the details of the amendment will come after that,” he added.

According to the Chief of Staff, the current focus is on the constitutional amendment itself, while enabling legislation would follow afterwards to define operational procedures and administrative frameworks for state police across the country. “Right now, what we are looking at is the constitutional amendment itself, and then the enabling law would follow thereafter. That is what we have been deliberating on in the last couple of hours,” Gbajabiamila stated. He further noted that there is now broad national consensus on the need for state police, stressing that discussions had evolved beyond the question of whether state police should exist. He said the focus had shifted toward ensuring the establishment of an effective legal and institutional framework capable of guaranteeing accountability and efficient operations.

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President Tinubu will receive a full report on the meeting’s outcome. He has consistently backed decentralised policing as a necessary response to Nigeria’s evolving security challenges, maintaining that such a structure would improve grassroots security, enhance intelligence gathering, and better protect lives and property across the country.

The consultative meeting was attended by a cross-section of senior government officials, demonstrating the administration’s commitment to the initiative. Those present included Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Benjamin Kalu, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) , and Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu. The meeting formed part of ongoing consultations by the Federal Government aimed at developing a workable and nationally acceptable framework for state police to enhance internal security and improve the ability of sub-national governments to tackle emerging security challenges.

The Thursday meeting followed recent kidnappings across the country that have reignited calls for security sector reforms. In May 2026, armed gunmen on motorcycles attacked schools in the Ahoro Esinle community of Oriire Local Government Area in Oyo State and abducted at least 39 pupils and 7 teachers. The assailants eventually killed one of the teachers in captivity. According to reports, the attackers stormed three schools on May 15, 2026 — Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Esiele; and L.A. Primary School, Esiele — in what has been described as a highly organized operation. The attack marked one of the first mass school abductions of its scale in the South-West, a region previously considered relatively insulated from the mass kidnapping crises that have plagued Northern Nigeria.

Governor Seyi Makinde reported 32 total abductions and took decisive action in response to the crisis. The Oyo State Government ordered the immediate suspension of all school excursions, field trips, inter-school sports competitions, and any extracurricular activities that require students to leave school premises. The Ministry of Education issued a circular directing all school administrators to comply with the suspension until further notice, citing growing security concerns across the state.

The abduction took a tragic turn when reports emerged that a mathematics teacher, Michael Oyedokun, was later beheaded by his captors. Another teacher, identified as Joel Adesiyan (also reported as Adesiyan Adegboye), was killed during the initial raid on the schools. The deaths have sparked national outrage and triggered protests by teachers across the country. In a message marking Eid-al-Adha and National Children’s Day, Governor Makinde expressed deep solidarity with the families of the abducted school children and teachers. “As we mark this year’s Eid and Children’s Day, our thoughts are with every family awaiting the return of their loved ones, and with security agencies working to keep our communities safe,” he wrote on his official X handle. He reassured the state of his administration’s efforts to resolve the crisis, stating, “We are working to ensure the safe return of those who were kidnapped in Oriire LGA.”

The Oyo school abduction has triggered nationwide protests by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) . Members of the NUT, Kwara State wing, joined the nationwide solidarity rally organised by the national body of the union to protest the abduction and continued captivity of teachers and pupils. The rally, held in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, saw teachers marching with placards bearing inscriptions such as “From Chibok to Oriire: Our children are still crying,” “We say no to attacks on schools,” and “Stop the killing and maiming of teachers in Nigeria.” The Deputy Secretary-General of the NUT in Kwara State, Mike Modesty, lamented that the victims had remained in captivity since May 15, adding that the continued attacks on teachers and learners showed that the government had not done enough to protect schools. “They have been abducted since May 15. One teacher has been killed and the remaining ones are still in captivity. And we are hearing that the bandits want to negotiate. Negotiate what? The lives of our children and the teachers?” he said.

The push for state police has gained renewed momentum amid growing concerns over insecurity and increasing calls for a more decentralised policing structure capable of addressing local security challenges across the federation. Supporters of the initiative have argued that Nigeria’s centralised policing structure has become overstretched amid rising security concerns including insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, and communal violence. Some states have already established regional and local security outfits, such as Amotekun in the South-West, but these operate without full constitutional backing. However, opponents have continued to raise concerns about possible political interference and the potential misuse of state police by state administrations, urging the inclusion of robust legal safeguards to prevent abuse. The state police bill has been one of the most contentious constitutional matters since 1999, with northern governors and some civil society groups previously expressing reservations. Nonetheless, Gbajabiamila expressed confidence that there is now a national consensus on the necessity of the reform.

The constitutional amendment, once finalised, will be presented to the National Assembly for consideration before the enabling legislation that will define the operational procedures and administrative frameworks for state police across the country. President Tinubu will receive a comprehensive briefing on the outcome of the meeting and the progress made toward actualising the long-awaited security reform. According to the administration, a decentralised policing structure would strengthen grassroots security, improve intelligence gathering, and enhance protection of lives and property across the country.

 State Police Framework Ready Soon, Presidency Tells Nigerians