A 33-year-old poultry farmer, Oreoluwa Osonuga, has been abducted by armed men at the Ikenne Farm Settlement in Ogun State.
Osonuga was reportedly abducted at about 12:05 p.m. on Sunday while leaving the farm settlement.
The incident was disclosed on Monday by the Chairman of the farm settlement, Seye Kehinde, who said the abductors briefly contacted the victim’s family and demanded N500 million for his release.
According to Kehinde, Osonuga was driving out of the farm when the gunmen attacked his vehicle, shot at it and forced him into the bush.
He said security personnel were immediately alerted and responded promptly, adding that military personnel were also deployed from Ilese to search the surrounding forest.
However, despite the efforts of the police, anti-kidnapping operatives, soldiers and other security personnel, there had been no significant breakthrough two days after the farmer’s abduction.
Kehinde said the kidnappers had not made further contact with the family since the initial call on Sunday evening.
“There has not been further contact from the abductors since the brief one made yesterday (Sunday) evening – around 5pm – with a cousin of the victim’s father, during which demand for N500 million ransom was made,” he said.
He added that the call was made by one of the kidnappers using Osonuga’s mobile phone on the MTN network.
Kehinde said the Ogun State Commissioner of Police was aware of the situation and the ongoing efforts to secure the farmer’s release.
He also recalled that another farmer in the settlement was kidnapped about four months ago and spent several days in captivity before being released after a ransom was paid.
Osonuga’s granduncle, Soga Osonuga, confirmed the abduction, describing it as a source of anxiety and distress for the family.
Speaking with our correspondent by phone on Monday, Soga said he was present when the family received the initial call concerning the abduction.
“It is true that my nephew was abducted on Sunday. His father is the last born of our parents, and I was there when a call was put across to him on Sunday. The statement is true,” he said.
He said the family had not received any further communication from the abductors as of Monday, adding that the police were already aware of the incident.
“We are also using this opportunity to call on the security agencies to intensify their efforts and ensure that my nephew is safely released,” he said.
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Soga said the incident had left the family emotionally and psychologically distressed, noting that Osonuga was trying to contribute to food production through his poultry business.
“It has been a very difficult time for the family. We are emotionally and psychologically upset. This is a young man who is trying and struggling to do something reasonable with his life and make ends meet, and for such a young man to be facing something like this has thrown the family, friends and well-wishers into a state of unnecessary anxiety,” he said.
“We plead with the government and security agencies to please act fast and help bring back our son safely.”
Attempts to obtain a response from the Ogun State Police Command were unsuccessful, as calls to the command’s spokesperson, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, went unanswered, while messages sent to his WhatsApp had not been responded to as of press time.
The incident comes days after a joint operation involving the police, the Department of State Services and the Nigerian Army led to the rescue of seven students abducted from Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade. Three suspected kidnappers were reportedly neutralised during the operation.
