Gunmen abduct Ogun farmer, demand N500m ransom

A 33-year-old poultry farmer, Oreoluwa Osonuga, was abducted by armed men at the Ikenne Farm Settlement in Ogun State on Sunday afternoon.

The kidnapping occurred around 12:05 p.m. as Osonuga was leaving his farm. The assailants reportedly shot at his car before forcing him into the bush. Security personnel were immediately alerted, and military units were deployed from Ilese to comb the surrounding forest, but their initial search yielded no results.

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The farm settlement in Ikenne witnessed an ugly situation this afternoon (12:05pm), as one of our members was kidnapped. He is Mr. Oreoluwa Osonuga, Male and about 33yrs of age. He is a poultry farmer and was on his way out of the farm when he was accosted by gun men, who shot at his car and forced him into the bush.

On Sunday evening, the kidnappers contacted the victim's family, demanding a ransom of N500 million for Osonuga's release. The contact was reportedly made with a cousin of the victim's father using the victim's mobile phone. As of Monday, two days after the abduction, there has been no further communication from the abductors, and no significant development in the rescue efforts.

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Today is Day 2. No significant development on either the rescue or release of kidnapped Oreoluwa Osonuga. 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.

Despite round-the-clock efforts by the police, anti-kidnapping units, soldiers, and other security operatives, the farmer remains in captivity. The Ogun State Commissioner of Police is reportedly aware of the situation and the ongoing efforts.

This incident has caused deep anxiety for the family and the farm settlement community. It is noted that a farmer from the same settlement was previously kidnapped four months prior and held for several days before being released after a ransom payment.

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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. We haven’t heard anything today Monday, but yesterday someone called the line while we were at the settlement. The police is already aware but we are also using this opportunity to call on the security agencies to intensify their efforts and ensure that my nephew is safely released.